skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Recommendations for dealing with asphaltene or wax problems in offshore production facilities

Abstract

Many production facilities around the world suffer from either asphaltene or wax deposition. Asphaltene and wax problems are seriously threatening the economic production from many offshore reservoirs due to the high cost of remedial measures. Offshore production facilities are especially susceptible to asphaltene or wax deposition for a number of reasons. One indispensable requirement for dealing with these problems, that offshore production facilities usually lack, is extra storage capacity for temporarily storing asphaltene or wax cuttings and washings away from inflicted equipment. The cuttings and washings, even if temporary storage were available, need to be dealt with nearly on a daily basis. Providing equipment to process the slop offshore is expensive and messy (environmentally). Hence, the cuttings and washings, in many cases, must be carried away to onshore slop processing facilities. The above discussion assumes, of course, that the operator has already found the best technology (e.g., tools, chemicals, etc.) for removing the deposits from the offshore equipment, which in itself is another challenge that precedes the disposal problem. All of the above considerations underscore the fact that the best way of dealing with the asphaltene and wax problems is to prevent them, where possible. This paper presents ideas andmore » methodologies on how to predict, diagnose, prevent, or mitigate problems caused by organic deposition in offshore production facilities. In one facility where these ideas were put to use, despite the debilitating magnitude of the asphaltene problems encountered, the field has been successfully produced for over 14 years with minimum environmental impact.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. AsphWax Inc., Sugar Land, TX (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
287884
Report Number(s):
CONF-960154-
ISBN 0-9648731-8-4; TRN: IM9639%%504
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Energy Week `96: American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Petroleum Institute energy week conference and exhibition, Houston, TX (United States), 21 Jan - 2 Feb 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Energy week `96: Conference papers. Book 3: Drilling and production economics; PB: 419 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; OFFSHORE PLATFORMS; FIELD PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT; FOULING; ASPHALTENES; DEPOSITION; WAXES; MITIGATION; DEWAXING; CONTROL; WASTE PROCESSING; OIL WELLS; FORECASTING; DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES; PRESSURE CONTROL; TEMPERATURE CONTROL; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Citation Formats

Leontaritis, K J. Recommendations for dealing with asphaltene or wax problems in offshore production facilities. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Leontaritis, K J. Recommendations for dealing with asphaltene or wax problems in offshore production facilities. United States.
Leontaritis, K J. 1996. "Recommendations for dealing with asphaltene or wax problems in offshore production facilities". United States.
@article{osti_287884,
title = {Recommendations for dealing with asphaltene or wax problems in offshore production facilities},
author = {Leontaritis, K J},
abstractNote = {Many production facilities around the world suffer from either asphaltene or wax deposition. Asphaltene and wax problems are seriously threatening the economic production from many offshore reservoirs due to the high cost of remedial measures. Offshore production facilities are especially susceptible to asphaltene or wax deposition for a number of reasons. One indispensable requirement for dealing with these problems, that offshore production facilities usually lack, is extra storage capacity for temporarily storing asphaltene or wax cuttings and washings away from inflicted equipment. The cuttings and washings, even if temporary storage were available, need to be dealt with nearly on a daily basis. Providing equipment to process the slop offshore is expensive and messy (environmentally). Hence, the cuttings and washings, in many cases, must be carried away to onshore slop processing facilities. The above discussion assumes, of course, that the operator has already found the best technology (e.g., tools, chemicals, etc.) for removing the deposits from the offshore equipment, which in itself is another challenge that precedes the disposal problem. All of the above considerations underscore the fact that the best way of dealing with the asphaltene and wax problems is to prevent them, where possible. This paper presents ideas and methodologies on how to predict, diagnose, prevent, or mitigate problems caused by organic deposition in offshore production facilities. In one facility where these ideas were put to use, despite the debilitating magnitude of the asphaltene problems encountered, the field has been successfully produced for over 14 years with minimum environmental impact.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/287884}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: