Flow Assurance

Asphaltene Inhibition

Asphaltene inhibitors prevent the aggregation of asphaltene molecules so the chemical treatment can be as an injection into the wellbore. 
Asphaltene inhibitors also commonly work as asphaltene dispersants (ADs), thereby dispersing ready-formed asphaltene agglomerates. Therefore the treatment products will also perform when injected into pipelines and will improve crude oil transportation.

Waxes are made up of long hydrocarbon chains from about C₁₅ to C₁₆₀ and occur naturally in crude oils causing many flow assurance problems. Challenges in both production and transportation of crude oils include wax deposition, flow problems and gelling, which are most evident in subsea and deep water operations. 

Paraffins can be linear, branched or cyclic. Like asphaltenes, the formation of waxes can be caused by a change in temperature, pressure, crude oil surge or when there is high gas to oil ratio.

Paraffin inhibitors fall into two categories: wax inhibitors and pour point depressants.

Wax inhibitor: Prevents waxes from depositing on cold surfaces such as pipeline walls. 

Pour point depressant: Prevents wax gelling and ensures that the oil will flow at low temperatures. Assists in pipeline restart.