MC News Close

MULTI-CHEM CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING

OF SHAFTER LOCATION

 

SHAFTER, Calif. (April 1, 2010) - Multi-Chem®, a global provider of oilfield production chemicals, celebrated the grand opening of its new West Coast location in Shafter, Ca. on Wednesday, announced Harold Johnson, Vice President of Global Business Development.

Multi-Chem hosted over 100 people at the grand opening event held at the new facility on Wednesday, which included lunch, tours of the laboratory and an address from Multi-Chem President and Chief Executive Officer, James Archer.

The facility consists of 3,000 sq ft of office space, a 1,600-sq-ft laboratory and a 4-acre storage yard.  It will provide service, sales support, technical analysis and delivery of specialty production chemicals for the oil and gas industry throughout Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Kings, Ventura, Los Angeles, Fresno, Merced and Madera counties, the largest producing area in California. The Shafter office is the third Multi-Chem location on the West Coast. Other offices, laboratories, blend plants and warehouses are located in Ventura and Meridian. 

The facility’s operations will be managed by Regional Operations Manager, Mark Wade, who has over 25 years of industry experience in production chemicals within California.

According to Wade, Multi-Chem strategically places offices within a 100-mile radius of its customers’ fields to provide focused local service.

“Superior local service is one of Multi-Chem’s fundamental objectives so that we can provide technical analysis and product support that is specific to the area and the technical challenges our customers are facing,” Wade said.

 

DECREASED PRODUCTION

Contact

There are a number of factors which result in oil and gas production decreases. Each of these increases lease  operating expenses, which combined with the decrease in oil and gas production, greatly reduces net operating profitability.

Solid build-up downhole

One of the most difficult problems impacting profitability found in the oil field is the build-up of deposits in the well bore, production string, flow lines and storage tanks. These deposits act as a restriction causing a gradual decrease in production and, in many cases, as a solid barrier blocking wellbore fluid flow. Unless remedial action is taken, this blockage may cause rod failures, tubing leakage and damaged pump parts in addition to the lost oil and gas production.

In gas production systems, hydrates form under certain conditions of pressure and temperature when water forms a cage around a gas molecule (methane, ethane, CO2, H2S). Hydrate molecules will aggregate and adhere to surfaces rapidly, causing line blockages and plugs. An effective hydrate control program designed by Multi-Chem can control hydrates and reduce the risk of problems caused by hydrates in gas production systems with a cost effective low dosage hydrate inhibitor (LDHI) program.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Low Dosage Hydrate Inhibitors

Paraffins or waxes are a primary constituent of hydrocarbon streams. Higher carbon chain waxes will precipitate out of solution as temperatures decrease in a production system. This precipitation will cause a number of production problems such as blocked pore spaces and perforations, plugged tubing, downhole pump failures, blocked valves, oil coated solids, fouling, tank bottoms, etc. A paraffin control program designed by Multi-Chem will eliminate paraffin deposition and keep production systems flowing at optimal levels.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Paraffin Treatment Products

Asphaltene molecules are present in most liquid oil and gas streams. These complex molecules can be destabilized by acids and electrical charges associated with oil and gas production. Once destabilized, they may precipitate and adhere to the surfaces of pipe, equipment, and solids, causing production losses and high operating expenses. Multi-Chem has chemical solutions which re-suspend the precipitated asphaltenes into the liquid hydrocarbon phase, where they can be transported to the refinery.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Asphaltene Treatment Products

Mineral scales such as calcite (calcium carbonate) and barite (barium sulfate) can greatly increase operating expenses and decrease production. Multi-Chem's advanced chemical solutions will maximize flow through the production tubing.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Scale Control Products

Liquid loading - F.A.L.

In producing gas wells, if liquids aren't removed from the well with the gas production, they'll build up. This causes intermittent gas flow which will eventually kill the well. Multi-Chem’s Enhanced Gas Recovery specialists will address issues associated with the liquids loading and more.

In the life of a gas well, as pressures decline, liquids are not completely removed with the gas production and buildup downhole. These liquids, predominantly water, eventually will cause the gas to flow intermittently and will eventually kill the well. Multi-Chem has developed superior solutions to remove the liquids from the well and keep gas flowing at its highest level.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Foamers

In many gas wells, liquid condensate is produced along with the gas. Condensate is a valuable part of production, and if it accumulates downhole, it can cause liquid loading of the well, which in turn causes premature declines and losses in production. Multi-Chem has specially designed foamers which remove condensate from the well with the gas production, maximizing well productivity and minimizing unnecessary intervention.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Foamers

Emulsion downhole

When oil and water form emulsions downhole, production will decrease and operational costs will increase. There are a number of causes that Multi-Chem field engineers can help to identify and set up the proper corrective actions.

Emulsions form when oil and water mix due to a number of conditions present in oil and gas production. Naturally occurring or man-made surfactants acting with shear forces will cause the oil and water to emulsify. Downhole, emulsions cause blockages and reduced production. In surface treating systems, emulsions in separators and storage tanks cause lost production due to oil being rejected at the LACT unit. Multi-Chem emulsion breakers will dissolve away emulsion problems wherever they occur, helping to maximize the efficiency of production systems and minimize lease operating expenses (LOE).

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Emulsion Breakers

Fluid changing over time

As a field is produced, pressures and temperatures change, stimulation programs are implemented, pressure maintenance is begun, solids deposit and characteristics of the fluids change. It's important to be aware of well's life cycle and pay attention to the produced fluids.

Paraffin (wax) is a primary constituent of hydrocarbon streams. Higher carbon chain waxes will precipitate out of solution as temperatures decrease in a production system, which generally occurs as a reservoir is produced and depleted. Additionally, reservoir cooling due to secondary and tertiary recovery methods accelerates the deposition process in the formation. This precipitation will cause a number of production problems such as blocked pore spaces and perforations, reduced total recovery, plugged tubing, downhole pump failures, blocked valves, oil coated solids, fouling, tank bottoms, etc. A paraffin control program designed by Multi-Chem will eliminate paraffin deposition and keep the production system flowing at it's optimal level.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Paraffin Treatment Products

Emulsions form when oil and water mix due to a number of conditions present in oil and gas production. Over time, the oil / water ratio changes, secondary recovery & pressure maintenance kicks in changing the composition and chemistries of the fluids. Destabilization of paraffin and asphaltenes and scale can add solids to the mixture. Along with the reservoir shearing forces, the oil and water will emulsify. Downhole, emulsions cause blockages and reduced production. In surface treating systems, emulsions in separators and storage tanks cause lost production due to oil being rejected at the LACT unit. Multi-Chem emulsion breakers will dissolve away emulsion problems wherever they occur, maximizing the efficiency of the production system and minimizing lease operating expenses (LOE).

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Emulsion Breakers

Viscosity Reducers

Producing a well causes changes in the reservoir’s equilibrium. Reduced temperatures and pressures, influx of fluids (from frac jobs, acid jobs, pressure maintenance, tertiary recovery) all contribute to causing mineral scales such as calcite (calcium carbonate) and barite (barium sulfate). Scale can greatly increase operating expenses and decrease production. Multi-Chem's advanced chemical solutions will maximize flow through the production tubing.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Scale Control Products

Reservoir Challenges

As a field is produced, pressures and temperatures change, stimulation programs are implemented, pressure maintenance is begun, solids deposit, and characteristics of the fluids change. Pore spaces become blocked by organic and inorganic deposits at the wellbore, wettability of the reservoir changes, bacteria may have taken root causing H2S levels to increase and injection wells become plugged by the injection of solids and fluids on the tail end of the cycle.

Oil and gas producers often re-inject production fluids to maintain pressure and hydrocarbon production. These fluids may contain suspended solids and surfactants that may reduce injectivity and cause operational problems with the injection system. Multi-Chem has developed specialized surfactants which increase injectivity, reducing injection pressures and maximizing flow through the reservoir. The surfactants also enhance sweep efficiency to increase the percentage of recoverable hydrocarbons from wells.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Wetting Agents

Scale Control Products

Paraffin Treatment Products

Biocides / Biotechnology

H2S Scavengers

It is common practice to use water from a variety of sources when fracturing a reservoir to stimulate hydrocarbon production. The source water may have a number of potentially problematic characteristics. The frac waters are often laden with bacteria and reservoir plugging microbes, they may be incompatible with reservoir water and cause mineral scales to form, or they may contain corrosive gases such as oxygen or CO2. Multi-Chem is the leader in providing cost effective solutions to increase the success of frac jobs and reduce production problems that if left untreated, will plague the production system for years to come.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Biocides / Biotechnology

Oxygen Scavengers

Scale Control Products

Often times, due to changes in pressure, temperature drops will occur in the near wellbore area. These drops will upset the equilibrium of a system and cause precipitation of mineral scale and organic deposition (paraffin and asphaltenes). Multi-Chem has specially designed solutions which remove damage in the near well bore area, penetrating deposits and removing them with the production, allowing the well to produce at its optimal level.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Paraffin Treatment Products

Scale Control Products

Emulsion Breakers

Viscosity Reducers

See All
See All
See All


PRODUCTION CHALLENGES