Certain reservoirs have ll. recurring wellbore damage problem caused by deposition of solid paraffin particles in the pore space. This paper describes the simulation of the reservoir processes of paraffin precipitation, convection, and deposition. The effect of reservoir heating treatments is included. IntroductionMost paraffin solids are mixtures of hydrocarbons ranging from C I8 H 38 to C 70 H 172 . Deposition of these thick, waxy substances in wellbores and production facilities can reduce operating efficiency. However, certain reservoirs also have paraffin deposition in the pore space, causing productivity damage. These reservoirs are the subject of this paper.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting held in Gillette, Wyoming, 15–18 May 1999.

TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractTyphoon, located in the Green Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico, is a joint deepwater development between ChevronTexaco (operator) and BHP Billiton. First oil was realized in July 2001, just six years after acquiring the leases. The Typhoon development consists of a mini-tension leg platform (TLP) with 4 subsea wells in approximately 2100' of water. Recently, Boris, a joint project between BHP Billiton (operator), ChevronTexaco, and Noble Energy Partners, was discovered in an adjacent OCS block, and 2 subsea wells were tied back to the TLP.The field consists of several hydrocarbon bearing sands with 60% of the field's proven reserves located within a single reservoir.Characteristics typical of many deepwater developments such as high flow rates, compartmentalization, reservoir compaction, and asphaltene precipitation are prevalent at Typhoon. As a result, asset management is complex and requires each well to be managed independently. The primary purpose of this paper is to describe how the asset and wells are managed and to heighten the awareness of associated complexities. This will be achieved by providing an overview that includes well and reservoir performances to date, reservoir management processes, and idiosyncrasies associated with operating a deepwater, subsea development in the Gulf of Mexico.

Summary Typhoon, located in the Green Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico, is a joint deepwater development between ChevronTexaco (operator) and BHP Billiton. First oil was realized in July 2001, just 6 years after acquiring the leases. The Typhoon development consists of a mini-tension-leg platform (TLP) with four subsea wells in approximately 2,100 ft of water. Recently, Boris, a joint project between BHP Billiton (operator), ChevronTexaco, and Noble Energy Partners was discovered in an adjacent block, and two subsea wells were tied back to the TLP. The field consists of several hydrocarbon-bearing sands with 60% of the field's proven reserves located within a single reservoir. Characteristics typical of many deepwater developments (such as high flow rates, compartmentalization, reservoir compaction, and asphaltene precipitation) are prevalent at Typhoon. As a result, asset management is complex and requires each well to be managed independently. The primary purpose of this paper is to describe how the asset and wells are managed and to heighten the awareness of associated complexities. This will be achieved by providing an overview that includes well and reservoir performances to date, reservoir management processes, and idiosyncrasies associated with operating a deepwater, subsea development in the Gulf of Mexico.