Clariant Oil Services Demulsifier Technology Minimizes Upsets in Heavy Oil Field

• Significant reduction in setbacks of the dehydration facility 
• This facility has been successfully treated with PHASETREAT 6359 for three years with no major upsets due to chemical problems. Prior to the treatment, upsets occurred every two to five months.
• Improved overall productivity and operational costs
• Producing an average of three new wells per month without upsets in either water or oil treatment

Background

A major heavy oil operator in the western United States was experiencing continuous setbacks at the dehydration facility due to new wells being put into production. Upsets were also caused by the very high organic solid concentration levels in the production area, a former fire-flooded region.

The operator contacted Clariant Oil Services in search of a demulsifier that would effectively separate the oil and water, as well as treat the solids and decrease the number of upsets. Field condition data can be found in Table 1.

Table 1: Field Conditions

Clariant Oil Services Solutions and Value Delivered

Thorough testing and field trials by Clariant Oil Services led to the development of PHASETREAT 6359, a demulsifier designed specifically to treat the formerly fire-flooded region of the field. As new wells were brought into production, they were treated with PHASETREAT 6359.

Results indicate that the demulsifier significantly increased production and no major upsets due to chemical problems have been reported. Likewise, the field is now producing an average of three new wells per month without upsets in either water or oil treatment.

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