Why Deposits Form

Crude oil carries waxes (paraffins) and heavy, complex molecules (asphaltenes) in solution. As oil moves up the well, its temperature and pressure drop. Paraffins can come out of solution and coat tubing walls. Changes in pressure and fluid makeup can also destabilize asphaltenes, which then collect in the tubing and near the wellbore. Heavy-metal deposits add to the build-up.

The result is the same: a narrower path, and less oil reaching the surface.

Dissolve or Release

Common approaches include mechanical scraping, hot oiling and solvent treatments. Each works by removing or dissolving deposits where they sit.

FlowTec takes a different route. It's a non-ionic, plant-based surfactant with a molecule about 1.2 nanometres across, according to the manufacturer. That small size helps it reach into the deposits and the zone around the wellbore. Instead of dissolving the deposits, it releases them from the surfaces they cling to, and they move out with the produced fluids.

What a Treatment Looks Like

1. Plan. Work out total well volumetrics, identify what you're dealing with (paraffin, asphaltene, heavy metals) and set a goal.

2. Dilute. FlowTec is mixed with water at the advised ratio:

  • 4:1 (20% FlowTec)
  • 5:1 (16.7% FlowTec)
  • 6:1 (14.3% FlowTec)

3. Inject and shut in. Pump the mix down the tubulars or through the annulus, then shut in the well for 24 to 48 hours.

4. Reopen and monitor. Open the well and watch the returned fluids and daily production.

For scale: a vertical well with 2⅜″ tubing in 4½″ casing at 6,800 to 7,500 ft may use one 275-gallon tote. Dosing is always well-specific, and our team will recommend a ratio for your well.

Worth Knowing

  • FlowTec is not a drilling fluid. It's used in production wells, as a stand-alone surfactant in fracturing, and in coiled-tubing work.
  • It's not classified under WHMIS, not flammable, pH neutral and not regulated for transport, per its SDS. Its SDS lists an operating range of −49.4°C to +215.5°C.
  • It's compatible with operations that run biocide and corrosion-inhibitor programs.
  • FlowTec is USDA BioPreferred.

For field results from five treated wells, read FlowTec in the Field.

Product claims in this article come from the product's Safety Data Sheet or the documents linked above.