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Here Is Information On Paraffin Removal Oil Wells

By Amy Wright


Petroleum fuels are powering the present world. The fuels are mined in different places worldwide. One of the regions that is famous for its large oil deposits is the Middle-East. Most economies in this part of the world relay heavily on income generated from the sale of oil. Other places where oil deposits are found include Africa, Russia, and the United States. This is worth knowing about Paraffin Removal Oil Wells.

The oil extraction process comes with many challenges. The deposition of organic deposits around and inside the wellbore is among the most recurrent issues. These deposits can be grouped into two main categories, which are paraffin and asphaltenes. The deposits are formed in the tubing or in the pores of the reservoir.

Three major groups of compounds are contained in crude oil. These compounds are resins and asphaltenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and saturated hydrocarbons, which are also called paraffins. Paraffins and aromatic hydrocarbons make the highest composition in crude oil, while asphaltenes and resins make only a small percentage. Bitumens, tars, and other more degraded crudes on the other hand contain more asphaltenes and resins compared to paraffins and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Paraffins are alkanes of high-molecular weight that build up in feed lines, wellbores and other components and spaces in boring setups. The deposits usually increase in thickness over time, and when they are grown to large sizes, they can lead to significant reduction in oil production. When this level is reached, it is important for some remedial steps to be taken to restore full production.

The hardness of deposits differ, while some are brittle others are very hard. As molecular weight of paraffins increases so does the deposit get firmer and bigger. Mostly the paraffins occur separately from asphaltenes but in some instances they appear together. These deposits occur due to loss of solubility of the involved crude oil. Factors like changes in temperature, pressure, and composition of the oils among others are responsible for causing the loss of solubility.

Various techniques are used for paraffin removal. As time has passed, new methods have been invented to fasten and ease the process of paraffin removal in wells. Consequentially, several techniques are available for use at the moment. These methods may be grouped into three main groups. These three groups of techniques are use of heat to melt and remove the wax, mechanical removal, and use of chemical solvents.

Mechanical methods involve the use of knives and scrappers to remove the deposits of wax in wellbores. Mechanical methods vary in the level of efficiency depending on the factors surrounding the deposits. These methods are relatively inexpensive to use. They are used a lot by many companies on their oil fields.

Solvents are employed commonly as well. Here, crude oil is applied on wellbores so that paraffin deposits can be removed. The crude oils that are used in this procedure are heated to temperatures of 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The oils that are hot are then fed or injected into the wellbore under gravity. Before the hot solvent is produced back to the surface, it dissolves the wax.




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