Asphaltene Mitigation in Giant Carbonate Abu Dhabi Fields: A Techno-Economic Comparison Between Continuous Injection and Formation Squeeze

Abstract

Asphaltene deposition is a serious and re-occurring flow assurance problem in several of the ADNOC onshore oilfields. Fluids are intrinsically unstable with respect to asphaltene precipitation, and operating conditions are such that severe deposition occurs in the wellbore. Wells in ADNOC are generally not equipped with downhole chemical injection lines for continuous inhibition, and protection of the wells require frequent shut-in and intervention by wireline and coiled tubing to inspect and clean up. Since some of the mature fields are under EOR recovery strategies, like miscible hydrocarbon WAG and CO2 flood, which exacerbates the asphaltene precipitation and deposition problems, a more robust mitigation strategy is required. In this paper the results of two different mitigation strategies will be discussed; continuous injection of asphaltene inhibitor via a capillary line in the tubular and asphaltene inhibitor formation squeeze. Three asphaltene inhibitors from different suppliers were pre-qualified and selected for field trial. Each inhibitor was selected for a formation squeeze in both one horizontal and one vertical well, and one of the inhibitors was applied via thru-tubing capillary string. The field trials showed that continuous injection in remote wells with no real-time surveillance options (e.g. gauges, flow meters) is technically challenging. The continuous injection trial via the capillary string was stopped due to technical challenges. From the six formation squeezes four were confirmed to be effective. Three out of fours squeezes significantly extended the production cycle, from approximately 1.4 to 6 times the normal uninhibited flow period. The most successful squeezes were in the vertical wells. The results of the trial were used to model the economic benefit of formation squeeze, compared to a ‘do-nothing’ approach where the wells are subject to shut-in and cleanup once the production rates drop below a threshold value. The model clearly indicates that the squeezes applied in ADNOC Onshore are only cost-effective if it extends the normal flow period by approximately three times. However, a net gain can be achieved already if the formation squeeze extends the flow cycle by 15 to 20%, due to reduction of shut-in days required for intervention. Therefore, the results in this paper illustrate that an asphaltene inhibitor formation squeeze can be an attractive mitigation strategy, both technically and economically.