SPE 129002

Novel Microbial Process for Mitigating Wax Deposition in Down hole

Tubular and Surface Flow Lines
Dolly Pal Rana, Surendra Bateja, Susanta Kumar Biswas, Ashok Kumar,Tilak Ram Misra, SPE, ONGC and
Banwari Lal, TERI

Copyright 2010, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Oil and Gas India Conference and Exhibition held in Mumbai, India, 20–22 January 2010.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
Many oil fields producing waxy crude, face severe wax deposition problem in down hole tubulars and surface flow lines.
Sometimes this problem is also encountered at the face of producing zone in the well bore region due to changes in
temperature & pressure conditions. This problem frequently results in complete blockage of the crude passage and poses
severe production problem. Conventional methods such as thermal, magnetic, mechanical scraping, solvent cleaning and
chemical treatment etc. are not only cumbersome, costly and hazardous but provide only temporary respite. Two separate
microbial systems, capable of mitigating the vexed problem of paraffin deposition in oil well tubulars and surface flow lines
have been developed.
The microbial system for down hole tubular comprises of paraffin degrading bacterial (PDB) consortium named as
PDS-10, nutrient supplements and growth enhancer. Laboratory studies showed significant reduction in pour point and flow
behaviour of the crude. The process is effective up to 900C but maximum efficiency was observed at 550C. Field trial in 100
wells of different fields of Western & Eastern sector has shown that the treatment not only checked the paraffin deposition in
all the treated wells but also improved oil production by 20-80 % in many wells. Most of the treated wells flowed without any
wax deposition for 6-8 months after the treatment.
For flow assurance in surface flow lines bacterial consortium named as FIB-19, which shows high degree of wax
degradation capability has been developed. The bacterial consortium is aerophilic, mesophilic and remains active upto 430C.
Field trial in surface flow lines of twelve wells of Ahmedabad Asset was quite successful resulting in elimination of
requirement of line flushing for considerable time along with reduction in pressure in the flow line. The average period of
effectiveness of the jobs has been found to be around 4-5 months.

Introduction
Paraffin deposition resulting in loss of production is a perennial problem in the oil fields, globally. The problem gets even
worse during the winter with falling temperatures. These problems range from clogging reservoir flow paths and causing
premature abandonment of reserves, to increasing maintenance costs of pumps, rods, tubing, flow-lines, separators and
creating tank bottoms in the surface facilities. The paraffin wax constituent of petroleum crude begins crystallizing depending
on temperature and pressure. During vertical flow lowering of temperature results in freezing out of heavier fraction of the
paraffin from the crude. High temperature of the reservoirs keep these paraffinic compounds solubilized but below Wax
Appearance Temperature of crude, the surfaces of the well tubing, surface flow line get coated with layers of wax.
Deposited wax in well tubings, pipelines and other flow lines damages formations, causes operational problems with flow
restriction and partial or complete loss of production. Paraffin deposition gets compounded with high GOR, high volumes of
oil production, temperature loss, acid/ fracture jobs, gas lift etc. With the passage of time the wax deposition thickness
increases leading to decline in production. Ultimate being the formation of wax plug resulting in stoppage/blockage of
production.
Flow restriction caused by wax deposition is a global phenomenon with gigantic losses in terms of production. It leads to
periodic mechanical scrapping, pigging, shut-in, pipeline replacements, abandonment, equipment failures, extra power
requirement and increased man power needs. Traditional methods such as thermal, magnetic, solvent and chemical treatment,
mechanical scraping are not only cumbersome and costly but also hazardous and provide only temporary respite. Moreover
these are environmentally hazardous and toxic.
Therefore, looking for a methodology which mitigates the vexing wax deposition problem is the buzz word today in oil
2 SPE 129002

industry. This paper deals with processes developed for prevention of wax deposition in down hole well tubulars and surface
flow lines using different microbial consortium.
The microbial treatment developed, adequately prevents and mitigates the wax deposition problem providing a viable and
economical approach

The Present Concept

The application of microbial technology for wax deposition control is a novel concept based on the use of microbes to mitigate
the vexed problem of paraffin deposition in oil wells. The selected microbes would be the ones which survive, thrive and
flourish under harsh environment of oil reservoirs, well tubulars and surface flow line conditions like temperature, pressure,
presence and/or absence of oxygen without affecting the lower paraffins.

A. Microbial Control of Paraffin Deposition in Well Tubulars

The Wonder microbes- Laboratory Scale Success
The microbial consortium, PDS-10 has been isolated and developed from the contaminated oil sands of oil fields. The
microbes are gram positive, thin rods of 0.3-0.4 x 1.5 x 2.0 µ in size (figure 1). They are thermophilic, microaerophillic, non-
pathogenic and optimum pH range is 6-8. The developed microbial consortium PDS-10 survives at the high temperatures of
oil wells, grows even in low oxygen and does not allow the paraffins to agglomerate by degrading micro and macro crystalline
waxes without affecting the lower hydrocarbons. The paraffin degrading efficiency of the microbes was observed to vary with
rising temperature. The consortium thrives at a temperature upto 900C but is best active at 550C (figure 2). Nutrient
supplements and growth enhancers for the microbes have been identified and growth parameters optimized. The metabolic
intermediates of wax biodegradation detected by GC and GCMS reveal the presence of alcohols and fatty acids of lower
carbon numbers. The research work on isolation and characterization of the microbes was carried out in collaboration with The
Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi1.

The Mechanism of Action

The developed microbial consortium deposits bio-film at the inner surface of the tubing which does not allow the crystals of
wax to get aggregated for deposition due to creation of this very smooth bio-film. The bacteria in the film degrades the fresh
wax crystals getting generated on the surface and also prevent agglomeration of such wax crystals by forming a coat around
tiny wax crystals. The bacteria also degrade the higher molecules of wax into smaller molecules which easily get dispersed in
to the crude oil. Thus, not allowing the paraffin to get deposited.

Field Trials
Methodology
The microbial consortium is incubated at 55º C to obtain seed population of microbes. Biological solution to be injected in the
formation and tubing is prepared in the field with the seed population. The well bore region and the production tubing is
cleaned by mechanical scrapping and solvent wash using usual tools and specific quantity of the solvent squeezed into the well
to redissolve the deposited paraffin in tubulars and well bore. Biological solution is squeezed in well bore area and filled in the
tubulars. The microbial consortium was allowed to proliferate to produce bio-film on the surface of tubulars. The well was put
on production after 5 days.

Well Selection Criteria

Field trials were carried out in oil wells of ONGC oil fields producing waxy crude. All the selected wells produced paraffinic
crude having wax content in the range of 10-27%, facing severe paraffin problem, requiring mechanical scraping daily to
every fifth day. Considering the growth limiting temperature of the PDS -10 bacteria and necessity of aqueous phase for their
growth, reservoirs having temperatures less than 90ºC and water cut of minimum 10% in produced fluid were considered as
optimum criteria. The wells were selected from oil fields of different geographical areas located in Western and Eastern
sectors of ONGC. Pre job parameters such as liquid rate, water percentage, frequency of scraping and other control measures,
oil properties etc. were recorded and compared with the post job parameters.

Field Pilot
The first field trial of the developed microbial system was carried out successfully in a well in Kalol field of Western sector of
ONGC where the well flowed without scraping for almost two years with increase in liquid production rate2 (figure 3a). Field
trials were conducted in 14 more wells from different fields. Each well gave excellent results in terms of extensive scraping
free period as compared to pre job scraping frequency and improved well liquid. The average life span of active life of the
microbes was found to be 6-8 months but the success saga in well tubulars ranged from 3 months to more than a year (figure
3b).

Field Response
The success of the job was evaluated on the basis of measure of post job scrapping free period in the well tubulars against the
number of scrapings required before the job. Wells showing 3 months of uninterrupted flow after the job with improved flow
SPE 129002 3

behaviour were classified as successful jobs. The unrestricted flow of the well, thereby reducing the manpower deployed for
scrapping, the time involved, expensive chemicals used and other associated cleaning jobs in the well besides scrapping
accounts for success of the job. The well bore cleaning achieved with the squeezing of microbial culture is an additional
benefit. Increased output in oil flow is the final attribute to the success of the job.

Commercialization
Based on the encouraging results achieved during field testing the technology has been extended to commercial level in the
fields of ONGC as well as Oil India Ltd. A new joint venture company of ONGC and The Energy & Resources Institute, New
Delhi, named as ONGC -TERI Biotech Ltd. (OTBL) has been formed to take up the jobs on commercial scale.

Results and Discussion:

Till date the technology has been implemented in 105 wells of ONGC and few wells of Oil India Limited. The microbes could
successfully prevent wax deposition in wells producing from different fields and also from different horizons of the same field.
Table 1 lists the case history of few wells taken up for microbial job. More than 70 % of the jobs have successfully mitigated
the deposition of thick layers of wax. Figure 4 represents the percent of wells with scrapping free period post microbial job in
ONGC. Many wells are still flowing post microbial job. The data is representative till September 2009. Besides preventing
wax deposition, the treatment has also showed improvement in oil production rate ranging between 20 to 80% in most of the
wells. The enhancement in oil production is due to uninterrupted flow of fluid in the tubing and increase in the influx due to
well bore clean up by action of the bacteria.
The average scrapping free period achieved after the job has been found to be around 6-8 months against the scrapping
requirement of daily/ alternate day /weekly etc. The variance in the crude properties has not been found to be a limiting factor
for the success of the microbial achievements. Initially wells on gas lift alone were selected for microbial treatment, but now
the microbial treatment has even been carried out in wells on SRP. In order to check the wax deposition, dummy is lowered
periodically in the treated wells. Presence of abundant number of PDB microbes of the order of 1-10 X 105 in the produced
fluid seems to be the main cause of significant reduction in the higher hydrocarbons after treatment as evident from GC finger
prints of oil before and after treatment in wells. The cumulative incremental oil obtained through these jobs is 2871 m3 in wells
of Ahmedabad Asset alone. Some of the wells are flowing since over 400days without any indication of wax deposition. Thus,
the technology has resulted in a major cut in the operating costs.

B. Microbial Control of Paraffin Deposition in Surface Flow Lines

Laboratory studies
The microbes were isolated from oil well head soil samples sites contaminated with paraffin crude oil. The research work on
isolation and characterization of the microbes was carried out in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute
(TERI), New Delhi3. The microbial consortium designated FIB-19 comprises of microaerophillic, mesophilic, non pathogenic
bacteria identified as Acinetobacter baumannii by 16SrDNA sequence (figure 5). It is gram positive, cocci. The microbes are
active up to 43º C temperature. The selected isolate shows 67 % wax degradation property (figure 6) and 40% flow
improvement efficiency at 37ºC.

Mechanism
Bacteria can remove paraffin from oil pipelines by dispersion and/or solubilization. In dispersion, bacterial metabolic
byproducts such as fatty acid, alcohols and surfactants loosen the paraffin deposits. Under fluid flow, the paraffin is broken
apart and removed. Once in suspension, the paraffin can be broken down further or it may continue through the system as a
solid in suspension. In solubilization the bacteria break down the heavier fractions into smaller ones, thus increasing the
percentage of volatiles in the crude oil. They may also form a slimy film coating on the inner walls of the pipeline as in case of
down hole tubulars, thus preventing/ delaying the nuclei of wax crystallization to form and further aggravate into wax
deposition problem of huge proportions.

Field Trials
Methodology
The microbial consortium is incubated at 37º C, to obtain seed population of microbial consortium. The surface flow line was
cleaned with solvents to achieve dissolution of paraffin and other deposited material in the flow line. Biological slurry in the
field was prepared with seed population and nutrients. The flow line was completely filled with the biological solution,
allowing the microbial consortium to proliferate for 5 days and develop a coating of the bio-film in the flow line.

Flow Line selection Criteria

Surface Flow Lines for microbial treatment are selected with high line pressure and requiring frequent flushing. Minimum
10% water cut in the oil is required for microbial growth. The flow line should have temperature below 43°C.

Field Pilot
Initial Field pilot was carried out in one well of Limbodra field of Western sector of ONGC4. It was 1.75 km long
4 SPE 129002

interconnected flow line with another well. The temperature of the flow line recorded in March 2007 was 400C at well head
end and 390C at the GGS end. The line pressures used to shoot up to as high as 8.5 KSC. The well produced paraffinic crude
having wax content in the range 25%, thus facing severe paraffin problem and requiring frequent pigging. The surface flow
line of the well was cleaned of all deposits by hot oil circulation and solvent flushing prior to the microbial treatment.
After microbial treatment, the flow line was closed for 5 days incubation to allow the microbes to flourish. The well was
monitored after putting back on production and performance of the microbial treatment was evaluated in terms of reduction in
the line pressure at the time of flowing and requirement of line flushing job.

Response
After the job the flow line could be sustained on continuous flow for a period of four to five months without any requirement
of line flushing. The flow line pressure came down to the range of 5.0 to 6.5 KSC from 8.0-8.05 KSC before the job and no
further increase in line pressure since has been observed. The success of the job is thus accounted through reduction in line
pressure and eliminating the need of line flushing for at least 3 months.

Commercialization
Based on the encouraging results achieved during field testing, the technology was extended to commercial level in the fields
of ONGC through OTBL. 55 km length of surface line of different wells has been treated with the FIB-19 microbial culture.

Results and Discussion

In general all the jobs have shown positive response after the job. For two flow lines there has been no line flushing since last
10 months after treating the lines with biological slurry whereas in four other lines the flow is unrestricted even after
completing more than 4 months of the microbial treatment. Few lines did require flushing on an average after 2-3 months of
job against pre job requirement of flushing almost weekly to fortnightly. In some flow lines the job has been done recently and
is under monitoring. The average longevity of the job is 4-5 months. Figure 7 represents the microbial wax deposition control
profile of the treated surface flow lines. Significant drop in line pressure has been observed.

The Novelty of the Technique

These microbial technologies do not require deployment of work over rig. The technology has resulted in lesser dependence on
costly/ trade mark chemicals, resulting in increase in profits to the company. Reduction in operating cost is also due to non
requirement of mechanical scraping or line flushing. The technology does not require sophisticated equipments or specially
trained staff for field implementation. There is no need of any modification in the surface handling facilities for handling the
produced fluids and easy to execute in the field. World over the present day technology is mainly dependent upon the use of
mechanical scrappers which sometimes fall into the well leading to either complete or partial blockage of the flow path and the
well may require a work-over job, which is quite cost intensive. The developed technology is definitely more economical,
environment friendly and last but not the least it is sure non toxic and non hazardous. The technologies definitely help in
improving the bottom line of the company.

Conclusions
• The developed microbial consortia PDS-10 is highly effective in controlling paraffin deposition in tubular and well bore
region.
• Microbial consortia FIB-19 has been successful in controlling wax deposition in surface flow lines.
• The innovative developed microbial systems are cost effective and environment friendly.

The Way Ahead;

Considering the encouraging results obtained in the field implementation of jobs for paraffin deposition control in the well
tubulars as well as in the surface flow lines of on-land wells, it is planned to extend the technology to offshore fields as well.
For this flow lines from well platforms to process platform are being targeted on experimental basis.

References
1. Lal, Banwari, Sood Nitu, Reddy, M.R.V.P., Swaleh Abu, Rambaran and Kumar Vinod. Development of thermophilic micro-
aerophilic paraffin degrading bacterial consortium TERI Project No. 2002MB62, TERI, New Delhi, August 2004 Unpublished
Report.
2. Misra T.R., Khurana, R.K, Chauhan K.J, Biswas, S.K., Kumar, Ashok, Singh, Nimmi. Field Trial of paraffin degrading bacterial
consortium active upto 900C in selected wells of Ahmedabad Asset, IRS, ONGC, Ahmedabad September 2006 Unpublished
Report
3. Lal Banwari, Sharma, P.M., Mandal, Ajoy Kumar, Dwivedi Manish, Swaleh Abu, Kumar Vinod. Development of microbial
system for improving flow efficiency of crude oil in surface flow lines. Project No. 2006MB38, TERI, New Delhi, April 2007
Unpublished Report.
4. Misra T.R., Chauhan K.J., Biswas, S.K., Kumar Ashok, Rana, Dolly Pal. Field Trial of Microbial System for Improving Flow
Efficiency of Crude Oil in Surface Flow Lines IRS, ONGC, Ahmedabad April 2008 Unpublished Report
SPE 129002 5

Acknowledgement
We are grateful to the Management of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation for granting permission to present this work. Authors
express their indebtedness to Dr. R.V. Marathe, GGM-Head of Institute, IRS, ONGC, Ahmedabad for providing facilities for
taking up this innovative project and always being the source of motivation especially during the course of field trials. Thanks
are also due to the Management of The Energy & Resources Institute, New Delhi for extending collaboration for the studies.

90
80

Degradation of Paraffins (%)

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
55 70 90
Tem perature 0C

Figure 1 Photomicrograph of paraffin Degrading Figure 2 Paraffin degrading efficiency of PDS-10 at different
Bacterial Consortium (PDS-10) temperatures

7
12
6
Scrapping Frequency

10
No. of scrapping

5
8 4
6 3 Job done
4 Partial deposition 2
Jo b d o ne
2 No scrapping 1 No scrapping

0 0
June'06

Oct'06

Dec'06

Feb'07

June'07

Oct'07

Dec'07

Feb'08
Oct'06

Oct'07

Aug'06

April'07

Aug'07
Dec'05

Feb'06

Aug'06

Dec'06
Feb'07

Aug'07

Dec'07

Feb'08
April'06

June'06

April'07

June'07

Time
Tim e

Figure 3a Scrapping frequency in pilot well Pre and Post Fig 3b Scrapping Frequency in Well Pre and Post Microbial Job
Microbial Job

6% 7% > 300 days

3%
200-299 days
10%
16%
100-199 days

60-99 days
10%
< 60 days

Well Problem

Job could not be

20% 28% executed fully
Under monitoring

Figure 4 Scrapping free profile of wells post microbial job Figure 5 Microphotograph of FIB-19
6 SPE 129002
d eg rad atio n o f Paraffin Wax (% )

80 >200 Days
10% 14%
70
60 100-199 Days

50
40 50-99 days
30 28% 19%
20 upto 50 days
10
0 under observation
30 OC 37 OC 40 OC 43 OC 45 OC
Temperature
10% 19% Line problem

Figure 6 Paraffin degradation by FIB-19 at different temperatures Figure 7 Line Flushing Profile in Surface Flow Lines Post
microbial job

Table: 1 Representative Parameters of Few Wells for Microbial Paraffin Control Job
in Well Tubulars

Parameter Well A Well B Well C Well D Well E Well F Well G

Net pay 2.0 6 .0 8.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 4.0

thickness(m)
Mode of lift GL GL GL GL GL GL GL
BHT (°C) ~88 82 85 86 ~85 ~85 86
Porosity (%) 15 15 14 15 ~ 10 15 15
Permeability (md) <5 ~15 ~20 ~20 Very low ~6 ~20
Date of Job 17.03.06 15.06.06 28.06.06 18.10.06 22.12.06 15.02.07 21.06.07
Date of well open 24.03.06 22.06.06 5.07.06 25.10.06 29.12.06 22.02.07 28.06.07
Pre job scraping every 3-5 Alternate day Alternate day Weekly Every 3-5 Alternate Every3-5
frequency days days day days
Days since >720 days >230 days >215 days >187 days 450 days 240 days 100 days
scraping not deposition deposition deposition
required observed in observed in observed on
Feb ’07 Feb ‘07 11.01.07
Pre job Oil Rate 3.16 3.56 2.65 2.7 3.06 10.4 4.5
3
(m /d)
Post job Oil Rate 5.0 5.14 4.17 4.2 4.68 12.48 5.88
3
(m /d)