A large portion of the world’s crude oil supply is prone to precipitate paraffin deposits which, over time, can build up and drastically decrease the efficiency of the entire oil recovery and transfer system including the oil well, flow lines, and storage tanks.

A unique patent-pending and highly effective microbial-based paraffin dispersal solution has recently been developed and commercialized in the Appalachian Basin. A low-capex, modular fermentation system ensures maximum potency and can be centrally located to service an area that is within four hours of the production facility. This product’s potency provides outstanding and cost-effective performance versus that of conventional paraffin dispersal methods developed for oil wells such as those using hot oil, hot water, solvents, and chemicals. It also provides important side-benefits including well stimulation and flow line and storage tank cleaning.

From an environmental standpoint, this bio-based product has the important advantage of requiring no added heat or mechanical energy. Also, unlike the solvent and chemical-based paraffin dispersal products, the microbes are non-toxic and require no special handling or safety precautions. A review of field applications and laboratory mechanistic studies of this novel microbial product are given in this presentation.

Primary Author/Conference Presenter:
Kirk Raney
Chief Upstream Petrochemist
Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC
Solon, Ohio
USA

Co-Authors:
Marty Shumway, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC Worthington, OH
Don Kreager, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC Worthington, OH
Kate Hornbrook, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC Worthington, OH
Ryan McGonagle, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC Worthington, OH
Ken Alibek, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC Solon, OH
Karthik Karathur, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC Solon, OH
Terry Stanislav, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC Solon, OH