SPE 105048
A Case Study In The Removal Of Deposited Wax From A Major Subsea Flow Line System In
The Gannet Field
H A Craddock SPE, K Mutch, K Sowerby, Roemex Limited; S McGregor, J Cook and C Strachan, Shell UK Limited.
Copyright 2007, Society of Petroleum Engineers
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2007 SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry
held in Houston, Texas, U.S.A., 28 February–2 March 2007.
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Abstract
The chemical removal and dissolution of deposited wax has been
described and proven in a variety of applications. This paper
describes in detail the removal of wax deposits from a major
subsea flowline with the use of a chemical dissolver.
The following stages were key to the successful wax removal
operation; selection and design phase of the chemical application,
the chemical environmental selection criteria, the development of
the work scope, as well as the mobilisation and logistics of the
chemical application. This paper will illustrate the challenges
faced as well as the novel monitoring and analysis techniques
used in the field to determine the level of wax dissolution in situ.
The wax removal process was deemed successful and offered the
client significant benefit in terms of increased oil production.
Reduced pipeline differential pressure and increased fluid arrival
temperatures also indicated that the wax restrictions in the
flowlines had been significantly removed. In addition, the
impact on the platform processing facilities during final fluid
displacement was much less than anticipated and occurred with
no major concerns.
A chemical dissolver application of this magnitude is thought to
be unique, indeed a world first. The application was conducted
in the Gannet D Field in the UK sector of the North Sea to
remove wax deposits from two 16 km 6” subsea production flow
lines.
Introduction
The control and mitigation of wax deposition and its concurrent
problems is rapidly becoming one of the critical challenges
facing the oil and gas development and production industry. As
the industry explores and develops in ever more challenging
environments, such as deepwater and sub artic conditions, the
control of wax deposition and its subsequent remediation is
becoming a critical technical challenge.
Wax deposits can occur widely in the production process and are
often considered as the organic equivalent of scale formation.
This interpretation is misleading and belittles an important source
of refined products from motor oil to jet fuel 1. This definition
also wrongly simplifies and implies equivalence to inorganic and
organic “scales”. We would refute this over simplification and
take the view that organic and crude oil waxes have considerably
different fundamental chemistries in particular in terms of their
chemical bonding and the number of factors effecting their
deposition 1. Our approach to wax dissolution is exemplified in
this paper which does not simply treat a deposited wax as a solid
to be solvated and dissolved but involves an understanding of at
least some of the complex solvent / solute interactions between
the dissolver and the deposited wax 2.
This paper therefore describes the selection of a wax dissolver
and its full field application. The paper also considers the
improvement in production rates in the Gannet D field by the
application of a wax dissolver to remove restrictive deposition
along a sub sea flow line.
Field location and characteristics
The Gannet field lies some 180km east of Aberdeen in a water
depth of approximately 90m. Since the field was originally
discovered in the 1970’s, several satellite fields have been tied
into the Gannet facilities. Gannet D is an oilfield located 16km
northeast of the Gannet Alpha (Figure 1). Production is from
five wells with oil being transported back to the Gannet Alpha
facilities via two looped 6” subsea flowlines referred to as Riser
31 and Riser 32. The crude from these reservoirs typically has an
API of 41, a wax content of approximately 7%, and a wax
appearance temperature in the region of 35.5oC. The Gannet G
field is also produced via this system with a single 6” flow line
tied in at the base of Riser 32, half a kilometre from the Gannet
Alpha platform. Therefore Riser 31 carries Gannet D crude only
and Riser 32 carries Gannet D and G crude topsides onto the
Gannet Alpha processing facilities where the oil is co-mingled
with other Gannet fluids before being exported to the Fulmar
platform.
2 SPE 105048
Figure 1: Overview of Gannet D Tie Back
Background
Wax deposition in the Gannet D flowline was first identified in
1999 during the Gannet G tie in operation when a spool piece
removed from the base of Riser 32 was found to contain
significant wax deposits. A study to estimate the extent of wax
deposition within the Gannet D system indicated that a volume of
up to 21m3 of wax could be present with deposition as far as 8km
from the platform. Since this discovery, several remedial
proposals have been examined by Shell however the perceived
risks were felt to be significantly higher than the potential
rewards. In early 2005, production-logging tests were performed
on all Gannet D wells. It was clear from the results that the
cumulative production potential from the field was significantly
higher than that being observed at the platform, further
confirming the presence of restrictive deposits within the
flowline system. Once again, Shell revisited the prospect of
performing a remedial wax removal program on the Gannet D
flowlines. Due to the fact that the line was going to be
depressurised for the wax dissolver flush and made hydrocarbon
free it was also decided to combine the flushing program with the
installation of subsea chemical injection lines to deliver wax
inhibitor to the flow line. A comprehensive process began of
engineering the most suitable way of removing the wax deposits.
After extensive consideration of the large number of remedial
options available, Shell decided that the treatment offering the
greatest chance of success with the lowest risk to personnel,
equipment or the environment was chemical removal of the
restrictive wax deposits from the flowline using wax dissolver
soaking aided by circulation. The design was to fill the flowline
loop with neat wax dissolver (600m3) and circulate the dissolver
until such time as the wax dissolver had become saturated with
wax. The plan was then to displace the wax dissolver from the
flowline using inhibited seawater and gel pigs, via the topsides
process facilities on the Gannet A and export the chemical via the
Gannet A to Fulmar export oil pipeline. To gain information on
the true extent of wax deposition in the Gannet D flowline and
the level of wax removal observed after the treatment, ‘time of
flight’ flow measurements were to be performed pre and post
treatment.
Chemical Selection and Deployment
Key to the success of the remedial wax removal treatment would
be the selection of the chemical dissolver. Several products
covering a range of generic chemistries were tested for
suitability. Not only should the chemical wax dissolver perform
to dissolve and disperse as much wax as possible, the chemical of
choice must also be suitable in terms of risk to personnel,
material compatibility, environmental profile, availability, cost
and impact on the platform and downstream process facilities.
After a series of extensive testing by Shell Production Chemistry
Aberdeen, using field wax samples under static and agitated
conditions at both 4oC (ambient seabed temperature) and 30oC
(after heating), Roemex proprietary wax dissolver was selected.
Roemex wax dissolver, a proprietary blend of terpenoid extracts,
consistently performed well in laboratory tests, in particular at
wax dissolution at 4oC and met the additional health and safety
and environmental criteria required by Shell (Gold with no
product warnings for the UK sector and Yellow for the
Norwegian sector).
The wax dissolver was supplied in 22 x 20ft ISO tanks and sea-
fastened to a supply vessel for transport offshore. The tanks
were aligned in banks of 5 with a specially designed 6” manifold
system, which allowed the tanks to be emptied with the minimum
amount of manual handling (Figure 2). Once on station, the
chemical was pumped from the vessel up to the platform and into
the pig launcher assembly at Riser 31 where it could be
circulated round the loop between Riser 31 and Riser 32 via two
20m3 break tanks situated topsides on the Gannet A platform.
The break tanks situated topsides were designed to remove any
large deposits removed from the flowline and minimize the risk
of blockage in the pipework or pumping equipment.
The wax dissolver was circulated, intermittently, for
approximately 10 days. The treatment design included
circulation for 5 days however this was extended for operational
reasons. Throughout the operation Roemex chemists were
onboard the Gannet A platform to perform sampling and analysis
of the circulating fluids to determine the level of wax removal
and the optimum period for circulation. The initial design was to
circulate the wax dissolver at a rate in excess of turbulent flow to
ensure that any large pieces of debris were carried out of the
risers and would be caught by the two break tanks topsides.
However, due to problems with pumping equipment, the
circulation rate was limited to below 1.3m3/min, with the
majority of the circulation being performed at approximately
0.6m3/min.
SPE 105048
Figure 2. Supply Boat On Station at Gannet A
Samples were taken from riser 31 and riser 32 at regular intervals
throughout the circulation to determine the wax content in
Roemex proprietary wax dissolver. On completion of the
circulation phase, a gel pig was inserted into the flowline to
remove any loose wax or sand that had not been removed by the
wax dissolver circulation. Using inhibited seawater, the wax
dissolver was displaced in a controlled manner back through the
Gannet A production process and exported.
The tie in of new subsea chemical injection lines allowed the
commencement of a wax inhibition programme on completion of
the remedial wax treatment.
Time of flight measurements pre treatment indicated as much as
81m3 of wax was present in the Gannet D flowline. A post
treatment time of flight did not take place due to operation
circumstances therefore the success of the remedial wax removal
treatment was assessed using analysis of samples taken during
the circulation phase and the observations made when the Gannet
D wells were recommissioned and brought back on line.
Determination of Wax Content
Roemex performed extensive laboratory evaluations, prior to the
chemical deployment, to determine the most effective and
accurate means of measuring the wax content of the wax
dissolver. A method that would give quick, relatively accurate
and reproducible results was required. Two methods were used
offshore to determine the wax content of the wax dissolver being
circulated round the flowline; a viscosity measurement and a wax
dissolver flash method. The Viscosity method was based on the
principal that, at a constant temperature there is a linear
correlation between viscosity measurement and the wax content
of the dissolver. The flash method was based on the principal
that the wax dissolver completely evaporates at 110°C, thus the
% solids content obtained could be converted to wax content (g)
per 100ml of dissolver using a calibration equation. A
calibration graph was developed in the laboratory using Gannet
export wax and a lab blend of Roemex proprietary wax dissolver.
The procedure for both methods can be found in Appendix 1.
The Viscometry method only takes into account changes in the
continuous phase and not dispersed wax solids. However the
3
wax dissolver flash method takes into account both dissolved and
dispersed wax. After initial sampling it was clear that the
Viscometry method was not accurate for low dissolved wax
contents and naturally gave lower results than that obtained by
the wax dissolver flash method. For this reason, only results
obtained using the wax dissolver flash method have been
reported.
Samples that demonstrated a significant change in the
characteristics of the dissolver during the circulation phase were
retained for further analysis onshore.
The sample points used to monitor the wax content of the
dissolver were located at the top of the pipework via a pressure
gauge. This meant that loose solids present in the circulating wax
dissolver may not have been detected during the sampling
process especially considering the circulation rate was relatively
low.
Figure 3 displays the average wax content determined by the wax
dissolver flash method during 12 hour monitoring periods. The
graph shows that the wax content gradually increased with time,
suggesting that restrictive wax deposits were being removed
from the flowline.
Samples obtained during the first 12 hour period showed high
wax contents most likely due to a short mixing time and spikes in
wax content from ‘lumps’ of wax not yet taken out by the break
tanks. A steady rise in wax content of the dissolver was observed
for subsequent 12 hour monitoring periods.
Average wax content measured over 12 hour periods
12
Wax Content (Kg/m3)
10
8
6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
12 hour monitoring periods
Figure 3. Wax content of Roemex proprietary wax dissolver determined over 12
hour periods throughout wax dissolver circulation.
4 SPE 105048
Samples obtained during the circulation period, along with a
blank, can be seen in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Selection of samples obtained throughout the circulation programme,
including a blank reference sample
Offshore Observations on Completion of the Remedial
Treatment
Recommissioning of the Gannet D wells resulted in an additional
480m3 per day of oil being recovered from the field.
Observations offshore also included a reduction in pipeline
differential pressure and increased fluid arrival temperature, both
indicating that the restrictive wax deposits had been significantly
removed. Increased fluid arrival temperatures have obvious
benefits in terms of future wax control.
Wax returns were observed topsides after re-commissioning of
the Gannet D wells indicating that the wax dissolver had become
entrained in the flowline deposits and was still working after
production had resumed.
An accurate estimate of wax removal from the Gannet D flowline
was difficult due mainly to the following:
1. Sampling Errors – the sample point was located at the top of
the line therefore solids that had been moved out of the
flowline may not have been sampled.
2. The circulation rate of the wax dissolver was insufficient to
push larger wax deposits up and out of the riser section.
3. Wax returns were observed topsides after Recommissioning
of the Gannet D wells.
4. Estimation of the quantity of wax removed during the
treatment was further complicated by the fact that a post
treatment ‘time of flight’ measurement could not be
performed.
Conclusions
The increase in wax content of the dissolver observed using the
flash method, coupled with an observed decrease in flowline
pressure with time, indicated that the wax dissolver treatment
was removing restrictive deposits from the flowline. The
following points can be concluded from the results obtained:
1. Although a number of delays were experienced during the
remedial treatment programme, overall the client considered
the job a success.
2. After recommissioning of the Gannet D wells an additional
480m3 per day of oil was recovered from the field indicating
that the wax dissolver treatment had removed a significant
amount of the restrictive wax deposits.
3. Pre-treatment ‘time of flight’ measurements indicated as
much as 81m3 of wax was present in the Gannet D flowline
however a post treatment ‘time of flight’ measurement could
not be performed therefore an accurate estimation of wax
removal could not be made.
4. The flash method was more accurate for determining lower
concentrations of wax and gave more reliable results. The
flash method was deemed a suitable field method for the
determination of wax content in Roemex proprietary
dissolver.
5. Wax dissolver circulation is a viable and potentially
successful method of wax remediation from subsea flowlines,
negating the need for mechanical intervention.
References
1. Crude Oil Waxes, Emulsions and Asphaltenes, J.R.Becker,
Pennwell,1997
2. SPE 105049, The Application of Wax Dissolver in the
Enhancement of Export Line Cleaning H A Craddock et
al. Houston 2007
Acknowledgements
Roemex would like to thank the Shell for the opportunity /
permission to publish this data. The Shell core team members
for this project were, Anton Kiezer (central Asset Operations
Manager), Barry Knight (Central Asset Development Leader),
Jim Cook (Gannet Production Superintendent), The Gannet
Offshore Team, Pat Napier (Process Engineering), Mohamed
Salmani (Production Technology), Stuart McGregor, Colin
Strachan & Craig Munro (Production Chemistry), Caroline Scott
(Corrosion Engineering), Murray Burnett & Gordon Laurenson
(Subsea Engineering). Roemex would also like to acknowledge
the field services of Halliburton and Mr Robbie Simcox and Mr
David Ogilvie (Roemex) as the field service employees and
Evonne Campbell and Steve Fidoe for their comments and
contributions.
SPE 105048 5

APPENDIX 1 Profile = standard

Switch off = A60 (<1mg in 60 secs)
Determination of Wax Content in ‘proprietary wax dissolver’ Display = % solids
using Ohaus MD45 Moisture Analyser Target weight = 1g
6. Open cover on MD45 and ensure that a clean pan and
General pad are in place.
This method has been specifically designed to relate % solids 7. Press the TARE button, this sets moisture meter to zero.
reported by an Ohaus moisture analyser to the quantity (g) of 8. Add approximately 0.5g of the wax, spreading on to the
wax dissolved in Roemex proprietary wax dissolver pad as a thin film
9. Close cover and press START/STOP.
Principal 10. When analysis is complete the display will read TEST
Wax dissolver is evaporated from a wax / dissolver sample at OVER and a % solids value.
110°C to obtain a % solids result. The % solids content can be 11. Record the % solids result for the wax sample.
converted to wax content (g) per 100ml of wax dissolver using a 12. Measure % solids on calibration standards 0 – 25 g in
calibration equation. 100ml wax dissolver, taking 1g of sample and following
procedure steps 7 to 11.
Sampling Frequency 13. Plot calibration graph and obtain calibration equation,
Sampling frequency to be discussed relevant parties. enter equation into spreadsheet.
14. Take samples from the field at the designated sample
Apparatus
points.
Ohaus MD45 Moisture analyser
15. Shake samples well before adding approximately 1g of
Balance (2 decimal place)
sample to the pad using a Pasteur pipette.
Oven (If available?)
16. Repeat steps 7 – 12 to obtain % solids for the field
Disposable sample pans (fischer code BFS-228-500M)
samples.
9cm glass fibre pads (fischer code BFS-228-5105)
17. Calculate g wax in 100ml wax dissolver from % solids
3ml plastic pastuer pipette
using the calibration equation obtained in step 14.
100ml measuring cylinder
18. Retain a selection of inlet and outlet samples throughout
4x 175ml glass jar with lid
the sampling period for onshore analysis.
Glass rod
Note: if there is no sample of original wax available, the %
Disposable gloves
SOLIDS result should be substituted into the equation below to
calculate an approximate wax content as g in 100ml RX-05BD:
Reagents
i.e.
Roemex Proprietary Wax Dissolver
wax g/100ml RX-05BD = 0.02x2 + x – 1.1
Wax under test
Wax/Dissolver clean up samples
where x = % SOLIDS
Procedure

1. If possible collect a representative sample of wax being

dissolved.
2. Use samples previously prepared for VISCOSITY
method OR Prepare a series of calibration standards
using the wax sample. Weigh 5.00, 10.00, 15.00, 20.00
and 25.00g wax into each of 4 x 175ml glass jars and
add 100ml wax dissolver. Ensure wax dissolves
completely in the wax dissolver before proceeding to
Step 3. The most efficient dissolving method is to either
place jars containing wax and 100ml dissolver in an
oven at 60°C or to gradually add wax dissolver to the
wax samples and mix using a glass rod. Once wax has
fully dissolved add the remaining volume of wax
dissolver so that all samples contain 100ml. Once
dissolved, mix all samples well by shaking.
3. Determine the % SOLIDS of the wax sample using the
method below (see note at end of procedure if no
original wax sample is available).
4. Switch on Ohaus MD45 moisture analyser (MD45).
5. Set the MD45 to method WAX110 by selecting test
menu and method WAX110.
i.e. Drying temperature = 110°C
6 SPE 105048

Determination of Dissolved Wax in Roemex Proprietary 5.

Wax Dissolver using Baroid 280 Viscometer
General
This method has been specifically designed for use offshore to
relate sample viscosity to the amount of wax dissolved in
Roemex proprietary wax dissolver.
Principal
At a constant temperature there is a linear correlation between
viscosity measurement and quantity of wax dissolved in Roemex
proprietary wax dissolver.
Sampling Frequency
Sampling frequency to be discussed relevant parties.
9. Enter resulting viscosity (Cps) into spreadsheet and read
off wax g in 100ml calculated from graph and equation
1*. Save all results.
10. Retain a selection of inlet and outlet samples throughout
the sampling period for onshore analysis.
*Note: if there is no original wax sample available, ensure
dissolver/wax samples to be tested are at 25°C and measure
viscosity as described previously, the result is then substituted in
equation 1 below (done automatically by spreadsheet):
Equation 1: % wax / 100ml wax dissolver =
AVERAGE g in 100ml = 0.018x3 - 0.45x2+4.7x - 3.1;
where x=viscosity in Cps

Apparatus
Baroid 280 Viscometer
Balance (2 decimal place)
Oven / Waterbath (If available?)
0 - 100°C thermometer
150ml Nalgen plastic beaker
100ml measuring cylinder
4x 175ml glass jar with lid
Glass rod
Disposable gloves

Reagents
Roemex Proprietary Wax Dissolver
Wax under test
Wax/Dissolver clean up samples

Procedure

1. If possible collect a representative sample of wax being

dissolved.
2. Prepare a series of calibration standards using the wax
sample. Weigh 5.00, 10.00, 15.00, 20.00 and 25.00g
wax into each of 4 x 175ml glass jars and add 100ml
wax dissolver. Ensure wax dissolves completely in wax
dissolver before proceeding to Step 3. The most
efficient dissolving method is to either place jars
containing wax and 100ml dissolver in an oven at 60°C
or to gradually add dissolver to the wax samples and
mix using a glass rod. Once wax has fully dissolved add
the remaining volume of wax dissolver so that all
samples contain 100ml. Once dissolved, mix all
samples well by shaking.
3. Measure the temperature of the prepared standards and
warm or cool to 25°C.
4. Shake jars well to obtain a homogenous sample and
decant into 150ml Nalgen plastic beaker.
5. Measure viscosity of the prepared standards at 300rpm
6. Use the equation from the calibration graph produced to
calculate ‘wax g in 100ml’ by entering equation into
relevant column in ‘WAX + DISSOLVER’ results
section in spreadsheet.
7. Obtain a wax / dissolver clean-up sample.
8. Measure viscosity on sample as described in steps 3 to