Prevention of Paraffin Deposition in Oil Well Tubing

Paraffin deposition is a major operational challenge in oil production systems. At temperatures below 30°C, paraffinic crude begins to precipitate, leading to progressive build-up on tubing and flowlines. This results in restricted flow, increased pressure, and eventual blockage, causing significant production losses and higher maintenance costs worldwide.

Conventional mitigation approaches, such as thermal treatment, chemical solvents, and mechanical scraping, are expensive, environmentally hazardous, and often require frequent shutdowns, impacting operational efficiency.

TERI’s Microbial Solution

TERI and ONGC-IRS jointly initiated the research work in 1999 and developed a sustainable and cost-effective biotechnological solution for paraffin control using a specialized paraffin-degrading microbial strain (PDS-10). The same was launched in 2005. This mesophilic consortium degrades deposited paraffin in situ, restoring flow without the need for harsh chemicals or frequent mechanical intervention. The technology is protected through a joint patent.

Field Performance and Impact

• 341+ field applications across oil assets
• 84% success rate in paraffin mitigation
• 5–6 months scraping-free period, compared to frequent conventional cleaning
• >50% reduction in pipeline pressure (20 km flowline, ONGC Ahmedabad Asset)
• Sustained paraffin control for over 2.5 years in selected wells

The technology has been deployed across ONGC assets under a long-term collaboration framework and is being commercialized through ONGC TERI Biotech Ltd (OTBL).

Key Benefits

• Reduces operational downtime and maintenance frequency
• Eliminates reliance on hazardous chemicals and high-energy treatments
• Enhances flow assurance and production efficiency
• Environmentally sustainable and economically viable