Experience and prospects of controlling asphalt, resin and paraffin deposits at the offshore oilfields of Vietsovpetro JV

UDK: 622.276.72

DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2026-2-46-50

Key words: asphalt, resin and paraffin deposits (ARPD), gas-lift operation, injection gas heating, dewaxing, hydrotechnical structures

Authors: R.Yu. Systerov (Vietsovpetro JV, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vung Tau); A.A. Popov (Vietsovpetro JV, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vung Tau); E.N. Bamburov (Vietsovpetro JV, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vung Tau); A.G. Bagramov (Vietsovpetro JV, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vung Tau); Phan Quoc Khanh (Vietsovpetro JV, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vung Tau); A.O. Borozna (Vietsovpetro JV, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vung Tau)

The occurrence of asphalt, resin and paraffin deposits (ARPD) in gas-lift operated production wells on offshore platforms of Vietsovpetro JV has a sufficient impact on production stability and oil output. Meeting target production levels using traditional offshore ARPD mitigation methods (steam treatment and chemical inhibition with pour-point depressants) results in substantial operating losses, prolonged well shutdowns, and a non-steady-state production regime after restart. Additional ARPD removal operations on unmanned wellhead platforms lead to increased operating costs and are complicated by logistical constraints. To reduce the impact of ARPD on oil production, Vietsovpetro JV is pursuing both the enhancement of existing mitigation methods and the deployment of new technical solutions, including the adaptation of onshore-proven technologies to offshore conditions. This paper presents the factors limiting the effectiveness of conventional steam-based ARPD removal, the field adaptation of slickline ARPD removal in production tubing under gas-lift conditions, and the results of implementing a new technology based on injection gas heating using an electric heater unit. Pilot-scale field tests demonstrated that injecting heated gas into the wellbore increases the temperature of produced fluids within the most ARPD prone interval above the pour point of the crude oil, enabling the elimination of steam treatment operations and making the technology suitable for unmanned offshore platforms.

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