Flow Assurance

Fluid sampling and

analysis services
Applications
■ Phase behavior testing
■ Determining the physical
properties of waxes, asphal-
tenes, and hydrates
■ Assessing the risk associ-
ated with flow-impairment
phenomena
■ Proactively monitoring
production
■ Optimizing chemical inhibition
Benefits
■ Decrease production and
remediation costs
■ Reduce system overdesign
■ Optimize fluid flow behavior
■ Determine optimized pigging
frequencies and remediation
strategies
Features
■ Characterization of fluids
under actual reservoir and
process conditions
■ Laser-based solids detection
system (SDS) to evaluate the
changes in pressure, tempera-
ture, or composition where
solids precipitate
■ High-pressure microscope
(HPM) to visually observe the
onset and growth of organic
solid precipitates
■ Particle size analyzer (PSA)
to determine the size and
distribution of solids and
immiscible liquids
■ Data to determine optimized
pigging frequencies and reme-
diation strategies
Resolving flow assurance problems
means different things to different
people. To some, it is unclogging wells,
tieback lines and jumpers, and gather-
ing stations and risers of production-
robbing deposits of paraffin, scale, or
hydrate. Others take a more proactive
approach by monitoring data and feed-
ing it into production models to enable
predictions of flow problems in time to
take preventive actions.
Flow assurance is a multidiscipline
process involving sampling, laboratory
analysis, and production and facilities
engineering to ensure uninterrupted
optimum well productivity. Laboratory
testing provides necessary data to assess
the flow assurance risk because it defines
phase behavior and the properties of
the waxes, asphaltenes, and hydrates
known to be principal causes of flow
problems.
Schlumberger Oilphase-DBR* fluid
sampling and analysis services use proven
laboratory testing procedures for each
of these problematic solids. With tech-
nologies that characterize fluid samples
visually and quantitatively at realistic
reservoir conditions, Oilphase-DBR serv-
ices provide comprehensive flow assur-
ance studies that can help prevent or
mediate flow impairment caused by dep-
osition of organic solids.
Oilphase-DBR services include reser-
voir fluid sampling, surface sampling,
sample management, sample container
service and supply, improved oil recov-
ery studies, flow assurance studies, well-
site fluids analysis services, laboratory
phase behavior (PVT) studies, and soft-
ware services.
Wax behavior
Paraffinic or waxy crude oils are pro-
duced globally. In environments such
as subsea tiebacks, the precipitation,
deposition, and gelling of solid waxes
in hydrocarbon fluids constitute critical
production concerns.
Accurate fluid characterization is
an important component of any devel-
opment, production, or intervention
strategy for handling waxy crude. Under-
standing wax behavior can help avoid
high costs resulting from output reduc-
tions or stoppages, or conversely, from
system overdesign. Either situation
can occur when facilities or treatment
regimes are designed on the basis of
incomplete or overly conservative esti-
mates of the potential for wax-related
fouling or plugging.
Live fluid analysis
When assessing a waxy crude produc-
tion or transport situation, relying solely
on conventional dead crude wax tests,
including wax content and wax appear-
ance temperature measurements, can
be misleading. Stock-tank oil tests are
insufficiently representative of field sit-
uations because reservoir pressure and
solution gas have a strong influence
on wax solubility.
Laboratory-scale tests must account
for the actual thermophysical situation
in the field if they are to be applicable.
To facilitate the most appropriate and
cost-effective planning for wax inhibi-
tion, remediation strategies, or both,
Oilphase-DBR services include simula-
tion of a variety of actual reservoir or
process conditions for characterizing the
waxy properties of production fluids.
Wax appearance temperature
and pour point
The wax appearance temperature (WAT)
is the temperature below which a solid
wax phase forms within a hydrocarbon
fluid at a given pressure. Below the WAT,
significant viscosity increases, deposition,
and gelling are possible.
The pour point is the temperature, at
a given pressure, below which the static
fluid may form a gel. For a system cooled
below its pour point, restarting flow may
be difficult or impossible.
Oilphase-DBR services determine the
WAT of production fluids using cross-
polar microscopy (CPM), a visual tech-
nique enabling direct identification of the
onset of precipitation and the morphol-
ogy of the wax crystals. Using depres-
surized stock-tank oil, this test can be
performed as a preliminary indication of
the likelihood of wax-related production
problems. If potential for wax formation
is identified, high-pressure CPM tests can
be carried out under simulated produc-
tion pressure conditions.
Pour point tests can also be performed
on depressurized or live reservoir fluids.
A modified American Society of Testing
and Materials International D 97 tech-
nique is used to assess the temperature
at which a live waxy liquid at a constant
elevated pressure, and in contact with
Live oil pour point effect of adding solution gas.
solution gas, ceases to display fluid
behavior when cooled quiescently.

Rheology
Waxy crudes below their WAT do not
exhibit simple viscous behavior. These
fluids manifest shear-thinning viscosity
and other complex rheological phenom-
ena that must be properly quantified to Pour-point
completely optimize the design of waxy- temperature
crude flowlines.
For this purpose, Oilphase-DBR serv-
ices use a full-featured, controlled-stress,
high-pressure rheometer that operates
to 41,369 kPa [6,000 psi] and 150 degC
0 150 1,500 3,000
[302 degF]. Oilphase-DBR services
include systematic rheometry under Saturation pressure, psi
simulated conditions of live-fluid com-
position and processing pressures.

Gel strength Gel strength versus temperature.

If a well shut-in condition leads to gel

formation in waxy crude, the flow can-
not be restarted unless a certain mini- MPT1
mum stress level is applied to the system.
This threshold-yield stress is termed the MPT2
gel strength.
Gel strength measurements provide an
indication of the restart requirements of Gel
gelled crude and allow for selecting the strength
most appropriate techniques. Oilphase-
DBR services include a model pipeline
test (MPT) that measures the factors
affecting gel strength, including pres-
sure, thermal history, system geometry,
and fluid composition. The MPT is per- 48 58 72 86
formed at well conditions. Temperature, degF

Advanced tests
Wax solubility modeling is performed by
worsen, these problems. For example, behavior cell, and the near-infrared
evaluating the n-paraffin distribution of a
asphaltene-induced flow impairment laser beam passes through the reservoir
crude oil to C90+ using high-temperature
can be caused by normal pressure drop fluid contained within the cell.
gas chromatography and by quantifying
in the near-wellbore region or by crude By monitoring the intensity of the
wax precipitation using live-oil filtration.
dilution that occurs during gas lift. transmitted laser beam during the iso-
Specialized studies can also be carried
A suite of specialized proprietary thermal constant composition expansion
out in wax-crystal growth kinetics, copre-
tests that help predict and control these depressurization process, the asphaltene
cipitation of waxes with asphaltenes,
problems is provided by Oilphase-DBR precipitation onset (APO) is identified by
deposition measurement using organic
services. a marked decrease in the transmitted
solids deposition technology and mod-
laser beam intensity. By repeating this
eling, and various other means of prac-
Solids detection system procedure at different temperatures, the
tical and research interest—including
A laser-based SDS has been developed to complete APO envelope can be defined.
flow loop testing.
define the pressure and temperature at Compositional changes, such as those
which asphaltenes precipitate because that occur during gas lift, are simulated
Asphaltene testing
of fluid expansion depressurization of by incremental, isobaric gas-solvent
Asphaltenic crudes create exception- injections. These procedures provide a
the crude oil during production. The SDS
ally difficult flow problems. Normal thorough understanding of the complete
unit attaches directly to the PVT phase
production practices can cause, or range of conditions where APO occurs.
High-pressure microscopy
The studies of organic solids have been
greatly enhanced by development of
the Oilphase-DBR HPM. The ability to
directly observe the onset and growth
of organic solid precipitates at pres-
sures to 137,895 kPa [20,000 psi] and
temperatures to 200 degC [392 degF]
provides visual definition of the types
of solids present.
It is also possible to define the abun-
dance and morphology of these solids as
they grow. More importantly, it is possi-
ble to use Oilphase-DBR services to eval-
uate and optimize the effectiveness of
various chemical programs of solids inhi-
bition or remediation. The ongoing devel-
opments in HPM technology, including
the cross-polar HPM, enable study of the
phenomena of pressurized wax forma-
tion or coprecipitation of waxes and
asphaltenes.
Particle size analysis
Oilphase-DBR services provide a propri-
etary image analysis technology for PSA.
The PSA process operates as a synchro-
nous feature of the HPM, making it pos-
sible to determine the number and sizes
of solid particles that are visually appar-
ent. The system is calibrated using par-
ticle standards of various sizes and
concentrations.
The PSA uses proprietary image analy-
sis software to determine the onsets, sizes,
and distributions of wax, asphaltene, and
immiscible hydrocarbon-liquid or water
droplets that are present.
Organic solids deposition
and control service
The Schlumberger Oilphase-DBR organic
solids deposition and control (OSDC)
service is an essential flow assurance
characterization tool capable of simulat-
ing the production conditions of oil and
gas streams. The effect of pressure, tem-
perature, composition, surface type, sur-
face roughness, flow regime, and shear
on the deposition behavior of waxes and
asphaltenes can be evaluated.
The OSDC service allows for independ-
ent variation of these test parameters to
quantify their corresponding effect on
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*Mark of Schlumberger
Copyright © 2006 Schlumberger. All rights reserved.
Produced by Schlumberger Marketing Communications
Precipitation onset envelopes.
Hydrodynamic
path
Wax
Pressure
Hydrate
Vapor-liquid equilibrium
deposition tendency and rate. Unlike pipe
flow loops and other conventional meth-
ods used in evaluating flow assurance
production system design and chemical
screening, the OSDC service can test
export oils (low pressure), as well as
bottomhole and pressurized fluids, up to
103,420 kPa [15,000 psi]. In addition, basic
OSDC testing can be completed using
approximately 150 mL of reservoir fluid
(per measurement point).
This procedure leads to a savings in
both sampling cost and sample consump-
tion compared with the multiple-barrel
sample requirements of traditional flow
loop testing. By performing deposition
measurements at line conditions, the
OSDC service enables less conservative
system design and operation when appro-
priate, while decreasing the risk associ-
ated with the uncertainty inherent in
conventional data scaling practices. The
OSDC service offers a direct laboratory
measurement of organic solids deposi-
tion tendency that can be translated
to the field.
Hydrate behavior
The Oilphase-DBR fluid sampling and
analysis services use three mercury-free
system configurations, two visual and
one non-visual, for the thermodynamic
study of hydrate behavior.
Initial reservoir pressure
and temperature
Critical point
Asphaltene
envelope
Temperature
The PVT cell configuration and the
Sapphire* pressure gauge cell configu-
ration both use proprietary visual tech-
nology. A customized Autoclave cell
technique utilizes proprietary nonvisual
technology.
System capabilities include measuring
hydrate formation conditions for fluid
systems containing natural gas, CO2, H2S,
gas condensate, or oil in the presence
of water or brine.
These systems support studying the
effectiveness of various hydrate inhibitors
such as methanol, glycol, and electrolyte
solutions. They are also used in determin-
ing the maximum concentration of water
vapor allowable, while avoiding hydrate
formation at a prespecified operating
temperature and pressure condition.
Innovative technologies
for flow assurance studies
As a leading provider of reservoir fluid
sampling, wellsite analysis, sample
management, and fluid phase behavior
and flow assurance laboratory studies,
Schlumberger offers clients the bene-
fits of synergized technological innova-
tions and data that meet exacting
quality standards.