Clariant Oil Services’ Deliquification Strategy Enhances Production by 400% for Canadian Operator

Benefits

• Clariant Oil Services’ carefully-planned interventions saved this well from being shut-in and abandoned
• Maximized production due to a combination treatment using continuous injection and batch treatment
• Optimized chemical delivery strategy using a service-driven approach and attention to detail 

Background

A low pressure, low rate gas well in Northern Alberta made a pronounced amount of bitumen that led to very dense hydrocarbon deposits in the tubing. The well’s low pressure made it very sensitive to water production, and accumulation of just one or two cubic meters of produced water in the tubing would kill production.

Clariant Oil Services was already successfully treating the well with a liquid chemical foamer enhancement program, which included the injection of eight liters of WellBoost™ 115* per day – a moderately active, foam-producing product blended in a strong solvent matrix. This product worked very well by not only deliquifying the well on a continuous basis, but also controlling the deposition of bitumen in the production tubing. Unfortunately, a pump malfunction led to significant challenges maintaining production from the well, and detailed intervention by Clariant Oil Services was required.

Clariant Oil Services Solutions and Value Delivered

Clariant Oil Services was able to boost production from 0.9 e3m3 per day (31.9 Mscfd) to just under 4.5 e3m3 per day (159.7 Mscfd) - an increase of 400%. Production could not be returned to pre-pump malfunction levels even by modifying the rate of continuously-injected product or by rocking the well or by any other operational means available.

After spending some time on the well working closely with the operators, it was decided to design a batch treatment to kick-start the well back into production. A 20-liter batch of WellBoost™ 131**, a high-activity foaming product combined with aromatic solvents, was applied down the backside of the well. After a brief shut-in period the well was brought back online and, when combined with the continuously-injected WellBoost 115, production resumed to pre-malfunction levels.

This attention to detail and impeccable service delivered great value to the operator and removed the necessity to shut-in and abandon the well.

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* Previously sold as SOLVTREAT® EFI-204

** Previously sold as SOLVTREAT® 8558