Published July 2010

Prevention of paraffin sedimentation using layer heat energy in the exploitation process of deep gaslift wells

F.A. Guseinov

The article covers the prevention of paraffin sedimentations in lift pipes in the exploitation process of gaslift wells which is considered to be actual problems of oil and gas extracting industry. As is known, technological complications appear in connection with paraffin sedimentations in the upper part of lift pipes in exploitation process of oil wells in the content of product with waxed hydrocarbon. And this affects distortion of normal exploitation regime of wells and sometimes breaks the activity of the well. In such cases, the activity of wells is restored through the measures for the elimination of paraffin sedimentation (heat and chemical manufacture process are mainly realized in practice). Processing in the wells (constant and with intervals) needs more expenditures, and some difficulties occur in the practice in connection with usage of special equipment and mechanism and it limits to the implementation of these measures (especially in the offshore condition). Taking this into consideration the creation and application of alternative measures are important in this field. A large-scale research works were conducted in the article whether the prevention of paraffin sedimentation is possible in the lift pipes while using newly offered exploitation technology of gaslift wells. It became clear that it is possible to increase the well head temperature due to heat energy of the layer in connection with the high temperature of rising speed of gaslift wells if the layer temperature is 100 C or more in deep oil deposits. The prevention of paraffin sedimentations within the lift will be possible if the temperature of well head exceeds the temperature of paraffin sedimentation. The major exploitation signs of gaslift wells will be improved remarkably if new technologies of gaslift wells are used in deep wells. Thus, daily oil and gas production of the wells increase remarkably and special expenditure of employee agent decreases as the effective use of potential production opportunities of the wells is provided. Taking into consideration that using newly offered technologies of gaslift wells in deep gaslift wells will be more effective, its large application in the practice is recommended.