Chemical Treatment Requirements

The production treating chemicals normally required
to resolve the problems identified in a Flow Assurance
Study are shown in Table 1. The table also provides
typical injection rates, injection points, and materials
compatibility information.
Baker Petrolite recommends more in-depth studies and
tests using representative produced fluids to select the
most cost-effective chemical treatment program for your
specific flow assurance issues.

Table 1. Chemical Requirements

Required for Injection Rate Injection Points Materials Possible
Project (ppm) Compatibility (3) Combinations

Methanol for Yes 0.75-1.5 Upstream and Plastic (2), Corrosion

Hydrate Control bbl/bbl downstream of Duplex, 13Cr, inhibitor
water underwater safety 316ss, steel,
valve desirable (1) PTFE

Kinetic Hydrate Not As with Plastic, duplex,

Inhibitor adequate methanol 13Cr, 316ss, steel

Anti-agglomerate Suitable 0.72 gals/ As with Plastic, duplex, Scale, corrosion, Worldwide Headquarters
Hydrate Methanol bbl water methanol 13Cr, 316ss, and wax
Inhibitor Alternative steel, PTFE inhibitors 12645 West Airport Blvd.
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Wax Inhibitor Yes 100-300 Tree or manifold Duplex, 13Cr, Corrosion
316ss, steel, inhibitor
Plastic (check), anti-agglomerate P.O. Box 5050
Viton, PTFE Sugar Land, Texas 77487-5050
Asphaltene Inhibitor No 200-500 Bottom hole Duplex, 13Cr, Corrosion
316ss, steel, inhibitor U.S. Toll Free: 1-800-231-3606
Plastic (check), Tel: 281-276-5400
PTFE, Viton
Fax: 281-276-7395
Asphaltene No Intermittent Tree Duplex, 13Cr,
Solvent/Dispersant usage 316ss, Plastic
Internet: www.bakerpetrolite.com
Package (check), PTFE, Viton

Corrosion Inhibitor Yes 25-50 Tree Duplex, 13Cr, Hydrate inhibitor

316ss, steel, and dispersants Eastern Hemisphere Operations
Plastic, PTFE,
Viton
Kirkby Bank Road
Knowsley Industrial Park
Scale No 10-50
basis water or
squeeze
Bottom hole or
intermittent
squeeze
Duplex, PTFE Anti-agglomerate,
corrosion inhibitor
Liverpool L33 7SY
Tel: + (0) 151 546 2855 DEEPWATER FLOW
1) By “underwater safety valve,” we mean the tree valve used to shut-in the system.
2) Methanol diffused through thermoplastic umbilicals and long-term exposure to methanol has been shown to soften and reduce
the strength of thermoplastics, such as Nylon 11 and Rilsan. The impact on the umbilical has not been fully established.
Fax: + (0) 151 549 1858
ASSURANCE
3) Generally suitable materials for a broad range of products.

Baker Petrolite Flow Assurance Capabilities
Baker Petrolite offers the in-house capabilities and
resources to conduct Flow Assurance Studies and
evaluation tests that can be tailored to address your
specific production conditions, equipment, and
design challenges. We also supply cost-effective
chemical programs designed to optimize flow and
ensure operational reliability in offshore developments.
The information and recommendations contained herein are believed to be accurate and reliable as of the date hereof; however we do not warrant or represent their accuracy or reliability.
Disclaimer of Liability: Baker Petrolite Corporation (BPC) warrants to purchaser, but no third parties or others, the specifications for the product shall fall within a generally recognized
range for typical physical properties established by BPC when the product departs BPC's point of origin and that any services shall only be performed in accordance with applicable
written work documents. BPC MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING NO IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING ANY SERVICES PERFORMED OR PRODUCT SUPPLIED. BPC will give purchaser the benefit of BPC's best judgement in making
interpretations of data, but does not guarantee the accuracy or correctness of such interpretations. BPC's recommendations contained herein are advisory only and without representations
as to the results. BPC shall not be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, exemplary or consequential damages or losses from any cause whatsoever including but not limited to its negligence.
©2001 Baker Hughes Incorporated. All rights reserved. BP0115 (8/01) 2.5M
DEEPWATER FLOW ASSURANCE
Introduction
A Flow Assurance Study, which is a critical component
in the design stages of any oil production system, is even
more critical in a high risk project, such as the Gulf of
Mexico or off the West Coast of Africa. Predicting
hydrate formation or wax, asphaltene, or scale buildup
within the production tubing, flow lines, or export
lines that can decrease or halt production is essential
in optimizing flow. Corrosion tests for material
compatibility with the produced fluids and for the
selection of an effective mitigation program must also
be considered in assuring flow in deepwater lines.
Corrosion testing not only ensures uninterrupted
production, but also verifies that chemical injection
systems will operate without problems.
In addressing your flow assurance issues, Baker Petrolite
Corporation has the capabilities to conduct the following
studies.
n Fluid and Engineering Analysis
n Wax Prediction and Modeling
n Hydrate Prediction and Modeling
n Asphaltene Prediction
n Scale Prediction
To help you determine parameter regions in which
operations are most effective, we can illustrate the
various aspects of transport-related calculations.
Fluid and Engineering Analysis
Flow Analysis
Figure 1 illustrates a typical offshore production system.
The system temperature and pressure within the well
bore and the flow line are modeled to determine
convection potential. In constructing the thermo-
dynamic model of the system, Baker Petrolite
incorporates various assumptions with respect to
the environmental conditions.
Modeling predicts temperature and pressure profiles from
the well bore through the flow line to the topside
Structure
Flow Line
Well Head
Vertical Well
Bore Section
Figure 1. Production System
facilities, with a fixed arrival pressure. To assist you in
your design decisions, we can also model the effects of
insulation, production volume, and formation pressure.
Wax Prediction and Modeling
Waxes: Waxes are typically long, straight n-paraffin
chains within the produced oil. At elevated temperatures,
they usually remain dissolved within the oil. At tempera-
tures below the cloud point, the n-paraffin components
begin to crystallize into solid wax particles. They may
adhere to each other in this state. Deposition of
n-paraffin typically occurs when the wax-containing oil
comes in contact with any surface having a temperature
below the cloud point and providing a heat sink. The
deposition process can ultimately lead to a complete
pipeline blockage as shown in Figure 2.
Laboratory Measurements/Interpretations: Baker
Petrolite measures cloud point, pour point, and gel
strength, which are typically the three most important
Figure 2. Pipeline Blockage
parameters of interest to any operator. These measure-
ments immediately give information about potential
problems related to long-term wax deposition, pump-
ability of the oil under cold conditions, and restart
problems in the case of shutdowns.
Predictions and Modeling: We model the production
system to predict wax deposition effects. Since wax
deposits act as insulators, these layers shift any initial
temperature profile. Therefore, production rate changes
not only influence the deposition rate, but also the
deposition process over time. During modeling, pressure
profiles are affected through restricted cross-sectional
areas, while the effects of various (overall) heat transfer
coefficients are addressed through insulation materials.
A minimum flowing wellhead temperature is also desired
due to difficult access to the well bore in subsea systems
and subsequent increased wax remediation costs.
Treatment: Baker Petrolite incorporates empirical
modeling approaches to determine the typical impact
of wax inhibitors on the deposition rate. Our knowledge
of wax deposition rates as well as the impact of the most
effective inhibitor helps you fine-tune your pigging
operations.
Hydrate Prediction and Modeling
Prevention of hydrate blockages is a key component of
a flow assurance strategy and often the most expensive
to implement.
Hydrate Modeling Procedures
With the Multiflash gas hydrate modeling software from
Infochem, Baker Petrolite can generate a thermodynamic
gas hydrate stability curve for a given hydrocarbon
composition. As shown in Figure 3, the results predict
the conditions (pressure and temperature) at which gas
hydrates will be stable. Thus, for a particular field
situation, we can determine the degree of subcooling
experienced.
Hydrate Zone Hydrate
Free
Pressure
Hydrate Formation
Curve
Temperature
Figure 3. Hydrate Formation Locus
The program also enables us to determine the effect of
adding thermodynamic inhibitors, such as methanol. We
use a two-step process to predict methanol requirements.
First, we determine the amount of methanol needed in
the water phase to minimize hydrate formation. Second,
we estimate the amount of methanol lost to the
hydrocarbon phases. The first calculation is well
accepted and accurate to within ±4°F if both salt
and methanol are present. The second calculation
is more uncertain due to the lack of experimental
data with which to verify the model. In addition,
methanol partitioning to the oil phase depends
heavily on the composition of the oil phase,
particularly the presence of aromatics.
Hydrocarbon and brine compositions are used to
predict the hydrate stability curve and methanol
requirements. These predictions enable us to
evaluate the trade-off between insulation and
hydrate inhibitor injection. Since conditions in
the well can change over time and preliminary
samples are not always indicative of actual full
production, Baker Petrolite can also model the
effects of changing salt composition and water cut.
Note that these evaluations are only thermodynamic
predictions and do not account for the kinetics of
formation. In addition, they only indicate the
possibility for hydrate formation, not hydrate plugging.
Treatment: Baker Petrolite recommends the use of an
anti-agglomerate at a rate of 0.72 gals/bbl of water.
Asphaltene Prediction
Asphaltenes are a class of molecules that are soluble in
aromatic solvents and insoluble in aliphatic solvents.
Asphaltenes are usually soluble at reservoir temperatures
and pressures. As the oil is produced and the pressure
drops, asphaltene solubility decreases until the oil
reaches the bubble point. As the pressure continues to
drop, asphaltenes become increasingly soluble. Due to
these changes in solubility, asphaltenes may precipitate.
Precipitated asphaltenes are sticky amorphous solids,
which tend to deposit on tubing, valves, chokes, and
other production equipment. The deposition process
may lead to decreased throughput and possibly blockage.
Asphaltene Prediction: Baker Petrolite conducts
asphaltene prediction studies using three main
categories of techniques — colloidal instability analysis,
solvent titration, and live-oil depressurization — to
assess the potential for agglomeration and precipitation.
While any one technique may not properly predict
whether asphaltenes
will become unstable
in the system,
taken together,
the methods are
reliable predictors of
asphaltene solubility.
Scale
Prediction
The issue of water-
formed scale deposits
has occurred to a
lesser extent in
current deepwater
production, but
as more water is
produced or seawater
floods begin more emphasis is placed on mineral scales.
Baker Petrolite uses the program, WASEQ, to predict
scaling tendencies for commonly observed mineral scales.
WASEQ calculates the Saturation Index (SI) for each
scale, which is defined as log [(cation activity * anion
activity)/ solubility product)]. Positive values of the
SI indicate the propensity for scale formation; negative
values indicate the solution is undersaturated. The
higher the SI, the higher the driving force for scale
formation and, thus, the more likely scale will deposit.
Treatment: Baker Petrolite recommends three
techniques for calcite scale control — continuous scale
inhibitor injection, periodic scale inhibitor squeeze
treatments, and periodic acid removal jobs. Because
scale can form throughout the tubing, continuous scale
inhibitor injection requires installation of a downhole
capillary injection line. Choosing one of the other two
treatment options eliminates the need for a downhole
injection string, but requires periodically shutting in the
well for at least one day at a time. Additionally, in the
case of a squeeze treatment, it is necessary to bullhead
the scale inhibitor into the formation at a fairly rapid
rate (typically 3 bpm), both to minimize downtime and
to optimize the performance of the squeeze. Too slow of
an injection rate causes too much adsorption on the near
well bore, thus limiting the penetration of the inhibitor
into the formation.
Methanol injection can exacerbate scale problems
because methanol decreases the solubility of calcite in
brine. If methanol is to be injected, we must assume
that scale problems will be more severe and higher
scale inhibitor injection rates or more frequent periodic
treatments will be needed. From our experience, we
know that it is possible for methanol injection points
to plug with scale due to incompatibilities between the
methanol and the brine, which further emphasizes the
need for adequate scale control. Under treating for scale
may lead to a loss of ability to control hydrates. The
effect of methanol on scale may be another reason to
consider an anti-agglomerate hydrate inhibitor. With
lower dosage rates, an anti-agglomerate should not
appreciably affect the scaling tendency of the brine.