Research of Temperature Conditions of Organic Sediments Formation in the Productive Formation at Paraffinic Oil Well Production

Abstract

The paper presents the studies results of the temperature conditions for the formation of organic (asphalt-resin-paraffinic) deposits in the productive formation during the downhole production of paraffinic oil, including the results of experimental studies to assess the temperature of oil saturation with paraffin in the pore space of reservoir rocks. The studies were carried out in order to substantiate and develop a technology for preventing such deposits in the "reservoir - well" system. The results of filtration and rheological studies showed that for the same oil, the wax saturation temperature in the pore space of the reservoir rock could exceed the value of this parameter in the free volume. It was found that for the investigated solutions (models of highly paraffinic oils), the phase transition of paraffin from liquid to solid state, the formation of wax crystals in the pore space occured at a temperature 3-4° C higher than in the free volume. The results of tomographic studies of the core material, performed before and after filtration of a paraffin-containing solution through it with a decrease in temperature, showed that the open porosity of rock samples decreased on average four times due to the clogging of their pore space with paraffin. Based on the results of the filtration experiment and computed tomography, a digital core model was created, which allowed modeling the fluid flow in the pore space of the rock before and after the formation of paraffin deposits in it. The calculations results of the changes dynamics in the thermal field around the injection well confirmed the probability of cooling the bottomhole zone of the well to a temperature equal to the temperature of the onset of wax crystallization, as well as the probability of the cold water front advancing to neighboring production wells, which could cause a significant decrease in the productivity due to the formation of paraffin deposits in pore space of reservoir rocks. The research results are recommended to be taken into account when developing oil fields in conditions of possible formation of organic (asphalt-resin-paraffinic) deposits in the productive formation. This will make it possible to more reliably predict and effectively prevent its formation in the "reservoir - well" system.

Standards for Selection of Surfactant Compositions used in Completion and Stimulation Fluids

“…Note that sometimes surfactants become more hydrophobic due to shielding of electrostatic repulsion between the end groups (heads) of surfactants by dissolved electrolytes [8].…”