Austin Chalk Pilot Project
Nine Austin Chalk wells located in East Texas with a history of paraffin related problems were selected for the pilot project. For the six months prior to Bio Tech’s microbial treatments, the wells averaged 1.3 hot oil treatments per month. The average cost for these treatments was $210 per month.
Bio Tech developed a treatment program designed to achieve the following goals:
1.) Remediate existing deposits of paraffin from the system.
2.) Inhibit the reformation of these deposits.
3.) Reduce or eliminate the frequency of hot oil treatments.
Batch treatments of a blend of various Para-Bac cultures, optimized for the Chalk formation, were applied monthly down the annulus of each well.
Bio Tech’s program was very successful.
Hot Oil frequency rates were reduced 98% during the six-month pilot test, dropping from the 68 required during the previous month period to the 3 required during the six-month rest period.
Flowline inspections revealed little or no paraffin accumulation. Two wells were pulled at the end of the pilot for a rod and pump inspection. Neither well required a hot oil treatment in order to unseat the pump. The rods and pumps proved to have very little paraffin accumulation, and the paraffin that was present was soft and manageable.
Bottom Line Results
Costs were reduced from $210/well/.month to %125/well/month for a total savings of $85/well/month.
Due to the overwhelming success of the Austin Chalk pilot project Bio Tech’s paraffin control treatment program has been expanded extensively.