SPE 84827

Paraffin Problems in Gas Systems

K. M. Barker, SPE, J.M. Bigler, K. Hake, D. C. Sallee/ all with Baker Petrolite
Copyright 2003, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Eastern Regional/AAPG Eastern Section
Joint Meeting held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 610 September 2003.
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Abstract
Gas wells, coal seam methane wells, glycol dehydrators, gas
plants and gas storage wells can all experience paraffin
problems that affect the cost to produce and handle gas.
Problems with paraffin have been encountered from the
formation through the gas plants to the storage wells. This
paper will explain what paraffin is, why the problems occur
and what type of treatments have effectively treated gas
system problems. Case histories of various types of successful
and unsuccessful treatments will be presented.
Introduction
Gas wells and coal seam methane wells may produce high
gravity crude oil (> 40 API) or condensate (> 50 API) with
the gas. Some wells may produce no liquids to surface but
will still be producing oil or condensate into the well bore.
The paraffin or n-alkane components account for a significant
portion of a majority of these oils and condensates. These
paraffins have a straight chain linear structure composed
entirely of carbon and hydrogen. The melting points vary
from -295F for methane gas (CH4) to >240F for Hectane
(C100H202) and above.1 See Table 1. It is not known what the
longest naturally occurring n-alkane in crude oil or condensate
is, the longest observed by this author was a C103H208. The
paraffins >C20H42 are the ones that can cause deposition or
congealing in gas systems.2 These paraffins >C20H42 can
deposit anywhere from the fractures in the formation rock to
the gas storage wells.3 The deposits can vary in consistency
from rock hard for the longest chain length paraffin to very
soft, mayonnaise like congealing oil deposits caused by
shorter chain paraffin. Crude oils and condensates have
congealing points from < -90 F to >130F.
Paraffin can cause a great many types of problems including
deposition from in the formation to the gas plant, congealing
oil, interface problems, tank bottoms, stabilized emulsions,
high line pressures, plugged flow lines, paraffin coated solids,

under deposit corrosion, plugging of injection wells and filter

plugging.4 One or all of these problems can occur in a gas
production system.
Many different types of treating programs have been used to
control all of the various types of problems in different
systems. Down hole problems have been treated by cutting or
wire lining, heated tubing, coated tubing, fiberglass tubing, hot
water circulation, hot oiling down the tubing, bacteria,
magnets, enzymes, steam injection, solvent or condensate
treatments, continuous or batch down hole chemical injection
and squeeze treatments of crystal modifiers (PPDs).
Chemistry of Crude Oil and Condensate
The paraffin series of compounds or n-alkanes contain only
hydrogen and carbon. The number of carbon atoms can range
from 1 to >100. The ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms can be
shown by the formula CnH2n+2. This means that for every
carbon atom we will have twice as many hydrogen atoms plus
two.1 See Table 1.
Reservoir fluids in gas wells are composed primarily of
methane, ethane and propane which have very low boiling
points. Depending upon a wells temperature and pressure
characteristics liquid oil or condensate may be produced. The
oil or condensate entering the well bore will contain the longer
chain paraffins that give the liquid its cloud point. The cloud
point is the temperature at which the longest chain length
paraffin present in an oil or condensate becomes insoluble in
that liquid. The cloud point indicates the temperature at which
paraffin deposition will start. If the formation or equipment
surface reaches the cloud point temperature of the liquid,
paraffin deposition will start even though the bulk oil is still
above the cloud point. As the surface temperatures of the
equipment drops below the cloud point shorter chain paraffins
will start to precipitate and deposit. The type of paraffin
depositing will change as the condensate progresses
downstream through the system. The melting point of the
deposits will change as the type of paraffin changes. If the
system cools sufficiently paraffins of < C36H74 will start to
precipitate and will cause the congealing of the condensate
itself.
Many times congealing condensate will be
misidentified as paraffin deposition. The only difference
between deposited paraffin and deposited congealed
condensate will be the melting point of deposit itself. A rule
of thumb of the author is that if the deposit melts at < 120F it
is probably a congealing condensate problem.
It should be noted that no two oils or condensates are exactly
alike in paraffin distribution. The cloud points will vary from
well to well in a field, viscosities will vary, production levels

and the temperatures of the fluids will vary. These differences

between wells will cause the problems to vary enormously
from well to well within a field.
Causes of Paraffin Problems
Most paraffin problems in gas wells occur because:
1) The reservoir oil or condensate losses the methane,
ethane and propane concentrating the long chain
paraffin in less fluid volume raising the cloud point.
2) The fluids contact a surface that is cooler than the
cloud point of the fluid in the system.
3) Cooling is often related to expansion of gas as
pressure drop occurs (Joule-Thomson Cooling).
Cooling of the oil and surrounding environment is caused by a
number of well and fluid characteristics. A number of the
possible reasons are listed here.
Gas Expansion Cooling
In humid regions of the world it is not usual to see ice form on
the body of a choke in an oil and gas production system. The
reason this ice forms is the rapid expansion of gas molecules
across the choke. This expansion is due to the pressure drop
across the choke. It is not unusual to see 2000 psig upstream
of the choke and 100 psig downstream of the choke. This
1900 psig pressure drop causes a 95F temperature drop in the
choke, or 1F per 20 psig of pressure drop. In this example the
body of the choke is cooled 95F, and if the temperature drops
below 32F, ice forms. The cooling associated with pressure
drop takes places wherever a pressure drop occurs;
permeability in formation rock, perforations, across pumps,
chokes and separators. A computer program is available that
can calculate gas expansion cooling 5. See Graph 1.
The first time that a well is tested using a pressure drawdown
test, paraffin will start to damage the most open flow paths
(permeability) in the formation. If the formation temperature
is below the melting point of the paraffin that has been
deposited, permanent damage has occurred.
Separation of Gas from Reservoir Fluid
As gas is separated from the reservoir fluid the long chain
paraffin content is going up in the remaining liquid. If a
reservoir fluid is 99% by volume methane, ethane, propane
and butane and contains 0.1% (>C20H42) paraffin in the
reservoir when all the gas is lost the paraffin (>C20H42)
become 10% by volume of the remaining fluid. If a large
pressure drop occurs at the same time the cooling may cause
the remaining condensate (oil) to go solid (congeal). If this
occurs it may be possible to produce gas without liquid
reaching the surface for a short time before the well plugs.
The condensate with the least paraffin by volume is the
condensate in the formation. The formation condensate is at a
higher temperature and pressure and has the lowest cloud
point it will ever have. As methane, ethane, propane and
butane are lost from the crude the >C20H42 paraffins are
increasing in volume compared to the rest of the crude. The
cloud point will also increase as the gas and gas liquids are
lost. The most paraffinic oil or condensate in any system is
that fluid in the sales tank near the bottom of the tank.

SPE 84827

Geothermal Gradient
The condensate or oil produced into the well bore will
stabilize at the bottomhole temperature and pressure and will
flow up the tubing to the surface. The natural cooling of the
liquid as it is carried to the surface may allow it to reach its
cloud point. If the equipment surfaces cool to the oils cloud
point deposition of paraffin will occur. The location may vary
from the formation to the pipeline or anywhere in between.
Oil Volume
The more gas, oil or condensate that an oil well makes, the
more paraffin is being carried through the system. It never
sounds like very much when you say the oil contains 2%
paraffin by volume until you realize that this is 2 barrels out of
every 100 barrels of condensate production. The more
condensate a well makes the faster the deposition will be and
the more frequent the problems. The higher the volume of
fluid produced, the warmer the condensate will reach the
surface. This will reduce downhole problems, but may not
eliminate them.
Cold Fluids
In many operations in the oilfield we have to pump large
volumes of fluid into the tubing or annulus. Reasons that we
may do this include; killing a well to work on it, acidizing or
fracturing the well. If the volume of fluid is larger than the
shut in fluid level some of the fluid will go into the formation.
If the fluid is pumped at >5 bbl per minute the fluid will reach
the formation at near its surface temperature. If a 70F fluid is
pumped from a truck on the surface at 5 barrels per minute it
will reach 5000 feet down a well and only be 75F. If pumped
at 50 bbl per minute it will still be 70F when it reaches the
formation. The situation gets much worse if it is January in
Oklahoma and the fluid is only 20F in the truck. If the flow
paths in a formation are cooled to 20F and the cloud point of
the reservoir fluids is 90 paraffin deposition will occur as the
produced fluid are being produced and warmed up the near
wellbore area. The melting point of the paraffin can be high
enough to permanently damage the formation.
Types of Problems and Treatments
Many different types of paraffin problems have been
experienced in gas wells. The following are examples of
problems that are possible depending upon the condensate and
system conditions being experienced. A certain problem may
occur in one system but with a different condensate in an
identical system it may not occur.
High Melting Paraffin Formation Deposition
At high pressure and temperature in deeper reservoirs,
reservoir fluids contain all the gas, gas liquids and other
components including the high melting paraffins. As the
hydrocarbon mixture flows into the near wellbore and through
the perforations pressure drops occur that cause cooling of the
formation. If the pressure drop is large enough the formation
rock temperature may be reduced below the cloud point of the
hydrocarbon mixture and long chain, high melting paraffin
may deposit. This paraffin can plug the flow paths in the
formation. If the paraffin deposited has a higher melting point
than the formation temperature permanent plugging may
occur. This deposition can reduce production of gas and
liquids very rapidly and may be misidentified as
natural decline.

SPE 84827

This type of problem can be removed by solvent treatments

and inhibited with crystal modifier squeezes. A deep (13,000
ft), hot (205F) gas well in central Oklahoma had declined
from 2 MMCF and 150BCPD to 80 MCF and 40 BCPD in
two years. Four solvent/chemical/condensate cleanup
treatments restored the well to 750 MCF and 70 BCPD over a
years time6.
Congealed Oil Formation Deposition
If the reservoir fluids in a gas reservoir are mostly methane,
ethane and propane the remaining fluid after they flash off
with reduced pressure contains all the paraffin from the
reservoir. In some wells the gas free oil that remains congeals
due to Joule-Thomson cooling and concentration of the
paraffin in a small volume of oil. This may result in a well
making no fluids to surface but being plugged by a grease like
congealed oil in the formation.
Dry gas wells in the San Juan Basin area of New Mexico were
suffering from a loss of productivity early in their production
life. Acid jobs did not help restore any gas production.
Congealed oil was seen on the surface in water tanks of some
wells so solvent treatments of the near wellbore formation
were tried with great success. Gas production was double or
tripled on some wells with one treatment. Squeeze treatments
of crystal modifiers can be combined with cleanup treatments
if the deposition is found to be a recurring problem that
significantly affects production of gas and oil.
Tubing Deposition and Congealing Fluids
If oil or condensate is produced up the tubing paraffin
deposition can occur if the equipment surfaces drop below the
cloud point of the fluid. If the paraffin deposited has melting
points of >120F the wells may be wirelined or cut to
periodically clean the tubing. If the frequency or time required
to cut becomes excessive or other problems are seen chemical
treatments may be required to cost effectively treat the
problems. Continuous injection down a capillary sting or
squeeze treatments may be effective in stopping or slowing the
deposition of this paraffin. If the melting point of the deposits
is <120F it is probably congealing condensate or oil that has
been caused by pressure drop cooling. If this soft congealed
fluid is occurring no liquid may be reaching surface.
The tubing of gas wells in the Four Corners area of New
Mexico were being plugged by congealed oil even when no
liquid hydrocarbons were being produced at the well heads.
Reduced production was being experienced with the slow
buildup of shoe polish type deposits. Tests showed that the
solid would melt at 109F and was a combination of paraffin
and condensate liquids that was congealed by the cooling
caused by the pressure drop in the tubing. The amount of solid
deposit was found to be small and it was decided that batch
treatments of 5 gallons of crystal modifier mixed in
condensate would be applied down the casing. The crystal
modifier liquefied the deposits and allowed them to be
produced to surface. A batch treatment every two weeks was
needed to maintain maximum production.
Methanol Induced Paraffin Deposition
In some gas wells hydrate formation is a possibility under
certain pressure/temperature conditions when water is
produced. To stop the formation of hydrate solids many
producers inject large volumes of methanol. Methanol can
stop hydrate formation but it can also cause the precipitation

of paraffin. If methanol is mixed into produced hydrocarbon

liquids it can precipitate the longer chain, high melting
paraffin causing a paraffin deposition problem downstream of
the methanol injection point. The paraffin deposition might
not occur normally but is caused by the methanol. Stopping
the methanol injection will stop the deposition of paraffin in
these cases. If hydrate inhibition is still required use of newer
hydrate inhibitors will stop hydrates without causing paraffin
deposition. The ratio of methanol to condensate that will
cause paraffin deposition will vary from well to well.
In Michigan a gas produced was using methanol to inhibit
hydrate formation and was experiencing a paraffin deposition
problem in the flowlines of gas wells. Analysis of the problem
indicated that the methanol was no longer needed as pressures
had dropped below that needed to create hydrate problems.
The shutting off of the methanol coincided with the
disappearance of the paraffin problem. Bottle tests confirmed
that the methanol was causing the paraffin to precipitate from
the condensate being produced.
Choke or Flowline Deposition
The choke may be the first place that paraffin deposition is
seen in a gas system. The pressure drop across the choke may
cause severe Joule-Thomson cooling. Ice on the body of the
choke is not uncommon. If plugging occurs continuous
injection or solvents or chemicals may be tried or the choke
may be opened up causing the pressure drop to occur
down hole.
Paraffin deposition may start in the flowline if the cloud point
of the fluid is low or system temperatures are high at the
wellhead. If paraffin first occurs in the flowline the lines may
be pigged if the accumulation of paraffin is slow. If frequency
of pigging becomes an issue hot oiling or continuous
application of chemicals/solvents may be tried.
Water Tank Deposits
In coal seam methane wells it is common for a lot of water or
only water to be produced in the first few months of
production. As the water rate drops to lower levels tanks may
be placed at the wellheads to collect the small amounts of
water produced. If very little condensate or oil is produced it
may collect in the water tanks as congealed oil if cooling is
occurring. The skim of congealed oil in the water tanks may
be the only indication that any hydrocarbon liquids are being
produced and they may be an indication of unrecognized
downhole paraffin problems in that particular well.
Solvent batch treatments can be used to clean the tanks of
hydrocarbons. Sometimes the addition of crystal modifiers
will liquefy the congealed oil.
Glycol Dehydration System Problems
The use of glycol dehydration systems to remove small
amounts of water from dry gas is common. The buildup of
contaminates in the glycol is also common which creates a
need to change out the glycol. The glycol is expensive which
leads to the continued use of systems that should have been
changed earlier. Analysis of the contaminates shows that a
large part is the buildup of high boiling paraffin and
asphaltene components from the small amount of condensate
or oil carried into the glycol unit with the gas. Most of the
hydrocarbons are driven off as the glycol in heated to drive off
the water present but a small percentage (varies in each gas
stream) of high boiling paraffin and asphaltenes accumulate

as the glycol is circulated over and over. The heavy

hydrocarbons help cause emulsion, oil wet solids and plugging
problems as the quantity of accumulation increases.
Solvents, surfactant and crystal modifier combinations have
been used to help clean up glycol systems so that the new
glycol will not be contaminated by a dirty system.
Separator Problems
Separation equipment is frequently plugged by paraffin due to
the pressure drop cooling that is experienced in this
equipment. The incoming gas and liquids are cooled rapidly
and then encounter spreader plates and mist extractors which
can accumulate the paraffin particles that may be present. Any
solids or water droplets will add to the volume of the problems
and cause reduced efficency of separation. The poor
performance of the separator may cause fluids to be carried
with the gas to the gas plant.
Large solvent treatments may be needed to clean up the
separator and continuous treatment may be needed if the
separator plugs frequently.
Tank Problems
In system making barrels of condensate a day a storage tank
will be used. The storage tanks are usually unheated and the
fluids usually cool to ambient temperatures. If the temperature
is below the cloud point of the fluid paraffin may separate and
settle to the bottom of the tank. If only paraffin is present it
may be possible to circulate the tank to disperse the paraffin
and then sell it. If however, water or solids are present, it may
be necessary to treat the fluid with a chemical to drop the
water and solids before it can be sold.
Gas Plant Problems
Paraffin problems in gas plants usually show up in separation
equipment or chillers. Paraffin problems in separators may
lead to hydrocarbon fluids being carried with the gas to the
chillers. In the chillers the cold surfaces will cause any long
chain paraffin present to come out of solution and deposit.
A chiller was having plugging problems and an analysis
showed the deposit to be C36H74 average paraffin. The gas
plant manager indicated that it could not be paraffin as nothing
above C10H22 could get through the sock filters in use at the
gas line exit of the separator. Analysis of the condensate
carried through the undersized separator and through the soak
filter showed that the paraffin were present in the condensate
but were still in solution in the condensate as it pasted through
the sock filters and only showed up as the condensate was
cooled on the chiller surfaces. The separation equipment size
was increased and no further problems were seen.
Gas Storage Well Problems
Gas storage wells can have problems with paraffin, congealed
oil and hydrocarbon liquids that are carried with the gas.
Problems can occur either as the gas is injected or when it
is withdrawn.
Injection problems occur because any solid paraffin particles
or oil wet solids will plug the permeability of the injection
well. If iron sulfide, carbonate scale or salt are oil wet they
will not be dissolved by fresh water or acid. In order to
remove the solids the hydrocarbon must be removed and the
solids water wet so that they can be removed with acid. This
damage can affect the withdrawal of the gas as the
permeability will be adversely affected.

SPE 84827

Gas storage wells in Pennsylvania were analyzed because of

low injection and withdrawal rates. The rates had declined
over the last two years to extremely low levels. Analysis of
side wall cores showed the presense of >60% organics (oil,
condensate, paraffin), iron sulfide, calcium carbonate scale,
salt and solids. A mixture of surfactant, mutual solvent and
acid was applied in a batch treatment to clean up the near
wellbore interval at the perforations.
Well tests after a
treatment showed that the well had gone from 6MMCF to 10.3
MMCF per day with one treatment.
Conclusions
1. Gas wells can have paraffin problems from the formation
to the gas storage wells.
2. Paraffin problems in gas wells will vary from well to well
depending upon the reservoir hydrocarbon mixture present and
system production conditionds experienced.
3. Testing and analysis of the actual deposited material is
crucial to effectiveness of any treatment program using
solvents or chemicals.
4. The nature of the paraffin problem may change with time,
temperature, production rates of hydrocarbon liquids & gas.
5. Treatment programs are available to treat paraffin problems
in gas wells.
6. Gas wells may have downhole paraffin problems without
producing condensate or oil to surface.
7. Joule-Thomson cooling causes many of the paraffin
problems experienced in gas systems.
8.
A computer program is available to calculate gas
expansion cooling in wells.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Baker Petrolite for
permission to present this paper.
References
1.
Stadler, M.P., Deo, M.D. and Orr Jr., F.M.: Crude
Oil Characterization Using Gas Chromatography and
Supercritical Fluid Chromatography, SPE 25191,
Paper presented at the SPE International Symposium
on Oilfield Chemistry, New Orleans, La., March 2-5,
1993, pp. 413 420.
2.
Pederson, K.S., Skovborg, P., and Ronningsen, H.P. :
Wax Precipitation From North Sea Crude Oils &
Temperature Modeling, Energy and Fuel (1991)
5,924.
3.
Newberry, M.E., Barker, K.M.: Formation Damage
Prevention Through the Control of Paraffin and
Asphaltene Deposition, SPE 13796, paper presented
at the SPE 1985 Production Operations Symposium
held in Oklahoma City, OK, March 10-12, 1985,
pp.
53-58.
4.
McClaffin, G.G. and Whitfill D.L.: Control of
Paraffin Deposition in Production Operations, SPE
12204 presenteed at the 58th annual Technical
Conference and Exposition, San Francisco,CA,
October 5-8,1983.

SPE 84827

5.

Mansure, A.J., and Barker, K.M.: Insights Into

Good Hot Oiling Practices, SPE 25484 , Paper
presented at the 1993 Productions Operations
Symposium held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
March 21-23, 1993, pp. 689-694.
Barker, K.M., Sharum, D.B. and Brewer, D.:
Paraffin Damage in High Temperature Formations,
Removal and Inhibition,
SPE 52156, Paper
presented at the 1999 Mid-Continent Operations
Symposium held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
March 28-31, 1999.

6.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
ALKANES IN CRUDE PETROLEUM

SOME

N-

Compound

Formula

Melting Point F

Boiling Point F @ 1 atm

Methane
Ethane
Propane
Butane
Pentane
Hexane
Heptane
Octane
Nonane
Decane
Undecane
Pentadecane
Eicosane
Triacontane
Tetracontane
Pentacontane
Hexacontane
Heptacontane
Hectane

CH4
C2H6
C3H8
C4H10
C5H12
C6H14
C7H16
C8H18
C9H20
C10H22
C11H24
C15H32
C20H42
C30H62
C40H82
C50H102
C60H122
C70H142
C100H202

-296
-297
-305
-217
-201
-137
-131
-70
-65
-21.5
-14
50
97.5
150
178
198
210
221
239

-127
-44
31
96.8
156
209
258
303
345
385
519
NA
579
NA
790
NA
NA
NA

Table 1

Graph of Joule-Thomson Cooling

Temperature (F)
0

50

100

150

-1000
In-Situ

Depth (ft.)

-2000
Production
-3000

Cloud Point
-4000

-5000

Example Well Data

Graph 1

259