Inhibiting wax deposition using palm oil additives

AbstractAmong the flow assurance problems that the petroleum industry faces, the deposition of paraffin waxes on to the wall of the pipeline is the most challenging. The challenge arises when the crude oil temperature decreases below the wax appearance temperature which prompts wax crystallization in the crude oil. An efficient method in remedying paraffin wax deposition is the utilization of chemical inhibitors. However, currently used chemical inhibitors are costly and environmentally harmful if a spillage occurs. Therefore, the use of biodegradable or environmentally friendly inhibitors as potential chemical inhibitors is being studied by various researchers. This study investigated oleic acid, poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and triethanolamine (TEA) as inhibitors that perform based on the van der Waals intermolecular interaction between the main wax component molecule eicosane C20H42 using molecular dynamics simulations Material Studio 8.0 software package. In order to analyse the desired structural property which is the radial distribution function (RDF), COMPASS force field was used. The RDF and g(r) function portrayed the functional atoms which aid in inhibiting the agglomeration and crystallization of the wax crystal formation. The presence of a carbonyl oxygen in oleic acid plays a vital role to inhibit the wax formation through the van der Waals interaction between active hydrogen atoms in eicosane molecule. Therefore, the chances of wax inhibition in eicosane are higher by introducing oleic acid as an inhibitor as compared to EVA and TEA. The results were then validated experimentally utilizing a cold finger technique under static condition.

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Study on the Pipeline Wax Deposition Mechanism and Influencing Factors

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.516-517.1018 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 516-517 ◽

pp. 1018-1021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rong Ge Xiao ◽

Bing Qian Wei ◽

Pei Fen Yao ◽

Dong Rui Yi

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Petroleum Industry ◽

Oil Production ◽

Oil Exploration ◽

Wax Deposition ◽

Safe Operation ◽

Deposition Mechanism ◽

Crude Oil Production

The phenomenon of wax deposition is an extremely important issue in the petroleum industry. Researching it is of great help for the oil exploration, gathering, and transportation. This paper described the phenomenon of wax deposition, discussed the mechanism, analyzed the influencing factors and proposed the positive significance of the phenomenon of wax deposition on crude oil production and safe operation in oil gathering and transportation pipeline.

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The influence of palm oil additives on the pour point and wax deposition tendencies of Chenor crude oil

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology ◽

10.1007/s13202-021-01316-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Thevaruban Ragunathan ◽

Colin D. Wood ◽

Hazlina Husin

Keyword(s):

Oleic Acid ◽

Crude Oil ◽

Palm Oil ◽

Pour Point ◽

Molecular Diffusion ◽

Palm Kernel ◽

Synthetic Fatty Acid ◽

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate ◽

Fatty Acid Esters ◽

Wax Deposition

AbstractOne of the major concerns during the production of crude oil especially in tropical waters is the deposition of wax on to the walls of the pipeline. This is due to the low seabed temperatures which can be below the wax appearance temperature (WAT) which leads to wax depositing out through molecular diffusion. Currently, there are many methods to prevent and remedy wax deposition but most of these solutions pose a serious environmental threat and are expensive to produce. Hence, this research investigated the use of an organic and cheaper alternative by utilizing synthetic fatty acid esters such as oleic acid which has shown promising results in reducing the pour point of waxy crude oils. The solution that was used was of palm oil origin, crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) and was subsequently compared with the pour point depressant and wax inhibition efficiency of the current industry used inhibitors utilizing the SETA Pour Point and Cloud Point as well as the cold finger apparatus. It was observed that the palm oil inhibitors were highly effective at 1 wt.% due to the high composition of oleic acid present portraying a similar result to Triethanolamine (TEA) while Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) performed best at low concentration of 0.1 wt.% but deteriorates significantly as the concentration increases due to the polar end agglomerating among itself.

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Wax Formation Mechanisms, Wax Chemical Inhibitors and Factors Affecting Chemical Inhibition

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10020479 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 479 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Thevaruban Ragunathan ◽

Hazlina Husin ◽

Colin D. Wood

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Formation Mechanisms ◽

Wax Deposition ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Chemical Inhibitors ◽

Chemical Inhibition ◽

Temperature And Pressure ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

And Chemical Properties

When crude oil is extracted out of a subterranean reservoir at high temperature and pressure, it is usually transported via a pipeline, where the crude oil experiences radical changes in its physical and chemical properties, instigating numerous complications. Among the various flow assurance problems, wax deposition and build up are among the most commonly found. However, the accurate mechanism of wax deposition is still unclear and is widely debated among researchers. The mechanism under multiphase conditions is also an ambiguity. This review covers the six wax deposition mechanisms, the challenges in multiphase flow conditions, the latest types of chemical inhibitor, and a summary of factors governing chemical inhibitor performance.

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Role of Shearing Dispersion and Stripping in Wax Deposition in Crude Oil Pipelines

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12224325 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (22) ◽

pp. 4325

Author(s):

Zhihua Wang ◽

Yunfei Xu ◽

Yi Zhao ◽

Zhimin Li ◽

Yang Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Critical Flow ◽

Wax Deposition ◽

Dominant Effect ◽

Critical Flow Rate ◽

Oil Pipelines ◽

Oil Flow ◽

Shearing Mechanism

Wax deposition during crude oil transmission can cause a series of negative effects and lead to problems associated with pipeline safety. A considerable number of previous works have investigated the wax deposition mechanism, inhibition technology, and remediation methods. However, studies on the shearing mechanism of wax deposition have focused largely on the characterization of this phenomena. The role of the shearing mechanism on wax deposition has not been completely clarified. This mechanism can be divided into the shearing dispersion effect caused by radial migration of wax particles and the shearing stripping effect caused by hydrodynamic scouring. From the perspective of energy analysis, a novel wax deposition model was proposed that considered the flow parameters of waxy crude oil in pipelines instead of its rheological parameters. Considering the two effects of shearing dispersion and shearing stripping coexist, with either one of them being the dominant mechanism, a shearing dispersion flux model and a shearing stripping model were established. Furthermore, a quantitative method to distinguish between the roles of shearing dispersion and shearing stripping in wax deposition was developed. The results indicated that the shearing mechanism can contribute an average of approximately 10% and a maximum of nearly 30% to the wax deposition process. With an increase in the oil flow rate, the effect of the shearing mechanism on wax deposition is enhanced, and its contribution was demonstrated to be negative; shear stripping was observed to be the dominant mechanism. A critical flow rate was observed when the dominant effect changes. When the oil flow rate is lower than the critical flow rate, the shearing dispersion effect is the dominant effect; its contribution rate increases with an increase in the oil flow temperature. When the oil flow rate is higher than the critical flow rate, the shearing stripping effect is the dominant effect; its contribution rate increases with an increase in the oil flow temperature. This understanding can be used to design operational parameters of the actual crude oil pipelines and address the potential flow assurance problems. The results of this study are of great significance for understanding the wax deposition theory of crude oil and accelerating the development of petroleum industry pipelines.

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Experimental Study of Single-Phase and Two-Phase Water-in-Crude-Oil Dispersed Flow Wax Deposition in a Mini Pilot-Scale Flow Loop

Energy & Fuels ◽

10.1021/ef400275h ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 27 (9) ◽

pp. 5036-5053 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Ekarit Panacharoensawad ◽

Cem Sarica

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Crude Oil ◽

Single Phase ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Wax Deposition ◽

Flow Loop ◽

Two Phase ◽

Dispersed Flow ◽

Phase Water

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Evaluation of the effect of nanoparticle addition into Gemini surfactant on rheology and wax deposition of Malaysian crude oil

Materials Today Proceedings ◽

10.1016/j.matpr.2021.07.497 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Norida Ridzuan ◽

Wong Wai Yan ◽

Shamala Devi VijayaKumar

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Gemini Surfactant ◽

Wax Deposition

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The blending effect of Sumatran crude oil on wax deposition through flow assurance simulation

10.1063/5.0063435 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ferdio Giffary ◽

Achmad Anggawirya Alimin ◽

Bambang Heru Susanto

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Flow Assurance ◽

Wax Deposition ◽

Through Flow

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Distinguishment of Weak Interactions of Hydrogen Atoms Bound to Carbon Atoms: X-Ray Crystal Structural and Hirshfeld Surface Analyses of 2-Hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)naphthalene with the 2-Methoxylated Homologue

Letters in Organic Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1570178619666211231105233 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

Author(s):

Kikuko Iida ◽

Toyokazu Muto ◽

Miyuki Kobayashi ◽

Hiroaki Iitsuka ◽

Kun Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Bonds ◽

Title Compound ◽

Molecular Conformation ◽

Weak Interactions ◽

Carbonyl Oxygen ◽

Hirshfeld Surface ◽

Molecular Surface ◽

Hydrogen Atoms ◽

X Ray ◽

Classical Hydrogen Bond

Abstract: X-ray crystal and Hirshfeld surface analyses of 2-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)naphthalene and its 2-methoxylated homologue show quantitatively and visually distinct molecular contacts in crystals and minute differences in the weak intermolecular interactions. The title compound has a helical tubular packing, where molecules are piled in a two-folded head-to-tail fashion. The homologue has a tight zigzag molecular string lined up behind each other via nonclassical intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl oxygen atom and the hydrogen atom of the naphthalene ring. The dnorm index obtained from the Hirshfeld surface analysis quantitatively demonstrates stronger molecular contacts in the homologue, an ethereal compound, than in the title compound, an alcohol, which is consistent with the higher melting temperature of the former than the latter. Stabilization through the significantly weak intermolecular nonclassical hydrogen bonding interactions in the homologue surpasses the stability imparted by the intramolecular C=O…H–O classical hydrogen bonds in the title compound. The classical hydrogen bond places the six-membered ring in the concave of the title molecule. The hydroxy group opposingly disturbs the molecular aggregation of the title compound, as demonstrated by the distorted H…H interactions covering the molecular surface, owing to the rigid molecular conformation. The position of effective interactions predominate over the strength of the classical/nonclassical hydrogen bonds in the two compounds.

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1. On Certain Products of Decomposition of the Fixed Oils in Contact with Sulphur.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh ◽

10.1017/s0370164600035987 ◽

1851 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 134-136

Author(s):

T. Anderson

Keyword(s):

Oleic Acid ◽

Stearic Acid ◽

Crude Oil ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Free State ◽

Organic Substances ◽

Simple Distillation ◽

Crystalline Product ◽

Sulphuretted Hydrogen

The investigations contained in this paper were undertaken with the view of ascertaining the nature of the action of sulphur in the free state on organic substances. The author endeavoured, in the first instance, to examine the action of that agent upon some of the simpler organic compounds, but without obtaining any definite results; and finally confined his experiments entirely to the fixed oils.The distillation of oil of almonds with sulphur, which is attended by the violent evolution of sulphuretted hydrogen, afforded a peculiar nauseous oil, and a crystalline product deposited on cooling from the latter portions of the oil. In order to ascertain the source of these products, comparative experiments were made with pure stearic and oleic acids. It was thus found, that stearic acid, when distilled with sulphur, gave products identical with those obtained by its simple distillation, but that oleic acid gave an oily fluid and crystals similar to those produced from the crude oil.

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