Device for more efficient production of heavy oil

• Published in: Chemical engineering research & design 2012-02, Vol.90 (2), p.238-242
• Main Authors: Danilovic, Dusan, Maricic, Vesna Karovic, Batalovic, Veselin, Lekovic, Branko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Awards; Cables; Chemical engineering; Deposition; Devices; Electric cables; Exact sciences and technology; Heating; Heating cable; Heavy oil; Inventions; New device; Paraffin; Well
• ISSN: 0263-8762
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2011.07.002

► The device enables more efficiency production of heavy oil. ► It has an original way of installation of the heating cable into the well. ► Also, it has been tested and the results have shown the positive multiple effects. ► Primarily, it prevents paraffin deposition and increase of well productivity. ► There is a greater energy efficiency comparing to the existing technical solutions. The exploitation of heavy oil in the future will require new technical solutions for more efficient production. One of them is the oil well heating by electric heating cable. So far a rare use of devices with heating cable for paraffin deposition prevention has resulted in an invention of a new technical solution. The developed device has an original way of very simple installation of the heating cable into the well, and so overcomes the main disadvantage of existing devices. Also, the device heating control unit precisely doses the needed amount of heat for oil heating that makes device energy efficient. Using of this technical solution increases well productivity by improvement of heavy oil rheological properties. The new device has been tested and the results are presented in this paper. It has been patented, and has won several awards.