Authors

Abstract

Phase transition of wax compounds of reservoir fluids into the solid state in the process of production and transportation of natural hydrocarbon mixtures is a serious threat to the smooth operation of the “reservoir – well” system. The development wells performance can suffer high risk complications under the conditions of low temperatures in the Arctic region. Laboratory studies of the wax phase behavior give the key information for engineering and economic analyzes of these risks. The paper presents the results of investigations of the phase behavior of reservoir fluids of the oilfield well of the Russian Arctic. The studies were conducted with the use of the modern high-tech equipment of the Innovation and Technological Centre of the Arctic oil and gas laboratory research of the Institute of Oil and Gas of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov, at the representative depth samples taken according to the current regulations. The scientific novelty is presented by the proposed method of constructing of the phase diagram of reservoir fluid at the “pressure – temperature” coordinates, combined with the areas of kinetic and aggregative stability of the mixture towards the solid wax phase. Kinetic stability is the ability of the system to maintain a uniform distribution of wax particles throughout the volume; aggregative stability is the system’s ability to maintain a degree of dispersion of the solid phase. Many researchers noted the importance of these properties in the understanding of the phase transition processes; so, the proposed method can play a positive role in the problem of an adequate description of the formation processes of solid organic deposits. The research results can be used for economic and technological justification of the wax deposits control methods in the given field.

Keywords

References

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