For over 20 years, oil companies around the world have relied on PetroTrace Downhole Heating Systems as an enhanced oil recovery tool to improve production, eliminate
downtime,and prolong the life of the well.
PetroTrace Downhole Heating Systems utilize electro-thermal heating technologies to
raise the temperature of an oil to reduce its viscosity, in the case of bottom-hole heating
applications, and to mitigate the risk of wax or hydrate formation in the production tube in
flow assurance applications.
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Bottom-Hole Heating
Studies have shown that heating heavy oils (20-8 API) will greatly reduce the viscosity of the oil, enhancing its flow along the production process. Utilizing PetroTrace
Downhole Heating Systems for bottom-hole applications, electro-thermal cables
are inserted into the reservoir, providing a constant source of high temperature in
the payzone. Bottom-hole applications include both vertical and horizontal wells
and current designs have provided power to achieve temperatures of over 400°F (204°C).
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Flow Assurance
Wax/paraffin and hydrates can plug
or slow the production of oil. In flow
assurance applications, PetroTrace
Downhole Heating Systems are
engineered to run external or internal
to the production tube to deliver a
constant source of temperature along
the production tube to avoid the costly
interruptions and stoppages because of
wax, hydrate or heavy oil plugs. Typical
flow assurance applications involve
maintaining the production tube above
185°F (85°C) for lengths in excess of
6,562 ft (2,000 m).
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