Exploitation of the Vaca Muerta formation in Argentina poses several challenges. During the production stage of the wells, paraffin precipitation in the tubing and flow assurance in the wells is vital. Initially, when natural flow begins, production temperatures are above the temperature corresponding to that of wax appearance; therefore, there is no formation of crystals inside the production tubing. As time goes by, wax precipitation begins to be noticed.The present work attempts to summarize the experiences acquired from production engineering concerning wax in wells that flow naturally, as well as in a more mature stage, of wells with Gas Lift assistance.
In 2021, severe cases of deposition were observed within the gas-assisted well installation. This involved cleanup actions that took several days to complete and affected a variety of resources. As the cases began to multiply, it was decided to implement a comprehensive prevention/mitigation plan through the study of each of the components of the paraffin control triangle. This plan was framed within a project that covers chemical selection, well maintenance with wireline equipment, use of hot water, optimization of wireline equipment operation, and resource scheduling.
The generation of a statistical base from field data allowed us to detect the critical flow rate where, if this is not followed by the start of inhibitor injection or with a change in the dosage, it can obstruct the flow passage in the downhole installation. Additionally, with the information collected, it has been possible to determine the expected depths of deposition, as well as the detection of possible follow-up variables.
