The effect of microwave and ultrasonic irradiation on crude oil during production with a horizontal well

Oil recovery using horizontal wells gives an undeniable benefit to the petroleum industry. One of the problems of using this method is that the wells can plug due to pressure and temperature changes. The components of crude oil such as asphaltene and paraffin wax can precipitate in the horizontal section of the well causing a loss of productivity and profit. This paper investigates the possibility of using microwave or ultrasonic irradiation for removing these precipitates remotely, without requiring expensive workover operations. Results include temperature and viscosity for various concentrations of crude oil, asphaltene and paraffin wax under different exposure times. The effect that different media (silica sand, bentonite and gypsum) has on the temperature of these components has also been studied. Based on experimental results, recommendations are made as to how to devise a new technique for cleaning plugged horizontal wellbores. The proposed irradiation techniques will eliminate the need for production shut down due to clean-up procedures.