Production Maximization

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Nalco EAME Headquarters

Nalco Europe Sàrl
A-One Business Park
Z.A. La Pièce 1
Route de l’Etraz
1180 Rolle
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0)21 614 6400

Heavy Oil Viscosity Reducers

Getting heavy, viscous oil out of wells is extremely problematic, since the severe pressure drop between the production tubing base and wellhead strains pumps and limits production. Use of heat/steam, drag reducers or flammable diluents such as naphtha has significant drawbacks in terms of effectiveness for wet, heavy oils, energy consumption, infrastructure investment, safety and water requirements. Now, there is an easy, safe and effective solution.

Nalco has developed polymer technology that reduces heavy oil’s apparent viscosity by creating a unique water external dispersion. Untreated heavy oils are oil external emulsions…mostly oil with droplets of water dispersed within. The apparent viscosity is primarily exhibited by the heavy oil itself. Nalco reverses this condition, causing droplets of oil to be suspended in water. This is a water external dispersion where the apparent viscosity is exhibited primarily by the water, not the oil. The result is a dramatic decrease in apparent viscosity, and a significant positive impact on operational efficiency and production costs.

Making the easy-flowing dispersion is only half the story. With Nalco Viscosity Reducers, the dispersion is easily broken using standard separation technology. The separated water can even be reused down hole. Nalco water external dispersions are stable for pumping and transport, but separate efficiently into reusable water and saleable oil.

Nalco Heavy Oil Viscosity Reducers are based on safe, non-volatile polymer technology used at low dosages. These non-combustible chemistries are easy to transport, safe to handle and simple to use. Pre-mixed with water above ground, these chemistries are injected down the well annulus where shearing action from the pump and the heat from the fluids create the water external dispersion. Significantly, this water need not be clean, and can even be produced water from the well itself or from the separation facility.

Nalco Heavy Oil Viscosity Reducers can significantly reduce operating costs by eliminating costly and volatile diluents, improving pump efficiency, increasing production rate, enhancing reservoir life, protecting production assets and improving safety.