Production Restoration and Enhancement in Waxy Well Using Energized Fluid Wax Cleanout Technology

Abstract Wax deposition in the wellbore and production systems has been a longstanding issue in the oil industry, significantly contributing to flow assurance challenges in crude oil production globally. This problem arises due to the natural presence of heavy organic (paraffin) constituents in most hydrocarbon accumulations. The nucleation and growth of asphaltenes, resins, and other inorganic solids in the wellbore lead to vertical lift insufficiency, resulting in production decline and even termination. Major deterrents to the effective remediation of wax deposition include poor reservoir fluid characterization to define the conditions under which dissolved waxes precipitate and deposit, rapid buildup of wax in wells with a long history of slickline wax cutting, and poor wax cleanout efficiency in wells with hard wax deposits occurring in the presence of longer-chain n-paraffins. An Energized fluid wax cleanout technology has been successfully deployed to effectively clean out hard wax deposits in Harrogate-01, an oil producer in the Harrogate field, Onshore Niger Delta. This technical paper describes the steps taken to implement a successful rigless energized wax cleanout in Harrogate-01, which resulted in production restoration with a gain of 400 BOPD, in line with the asset's relentless drive towards realizing the NNPC demands. A carefully designed energized wax cleanout recipe with high solvency and compatibility with the formation was deployed via Coiled Tubing to clean out hard-wax deposits on the Harrogate-01 production string. This case study provides valuable insights into the deployment strategy, its applicability, and the lessons learned. Best practices adopted during the execution of the job, as well as the operational challenges encountered and their resolutions, are discussed in detail. The findings from this project contribute to the broader understanding of wax deposition management and offer a viable solution for similar issues in other oil fields, potentially improving flow assurance and production efficiency across the industry.