Wax formation and deposition is one of the most common problems in oil
producing wells. This problem occurs as a result of the reduction of the
produced fluid temperature below the wax appearance temperature (range
between 46?C and 50?C) and the pour point temperature (range between 42?C and
44?C). In this study, two new methods for preventing wax formation were
implemented on three oil wells in Libya, where the surface temperature is,
normally, 29?C. In the first method, the gas was injected at a pressure of
83.3 bar and a temperature of 65?C (greater than the pour point temperature)
during the gas-lift operation. In the second method, wax inhibitors
(Trichloroethylene-xylene (TEX), Ethylene copolymers, and Comb polymers) were
injected down the casings together with the gas. Field observations confirmed
that by applying these techniques, the production string was kept clean and
no wax was formed. The obtained results show that the wax formation could be
prevented by both methods.
POINTS TO BE NOTED WHILE DOING DPR FOR HILLY TERRAIN ROAD PROJECT - CASE STUDY
