Managing waxy crude production in deep water increases production

摘要

The ability to predict with accuracy whether a well will experience flow assurance issues is a valuable asset. Operators that can do it save in two ways. A number of variables contribute to the possibility that a well or flowline will experience flow assurance problems in its lifetime. Particularly critical in deepwater field development, flow assurance has been addressed using a conservative approach in the past. Millions of dollars have been invested in preventive and mitigation techniques ranging from chemical inhibitors to electrically heated seabed flowlines. Most of these techniques have met with success, and they have become part of the conventional wisdom.