A Study of a Novel Inter Pipe Coating Material for Paraffin Wax Deposition Control and Comparison of the Results with Current Mitigation Technique in Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract

Hydrocarbon liquid consists of a range of components with different physico-chemistry characterization. Sometimes there are heavy component with crude oil such as asphaltene, naphthenic and paraffinic wax components and etc. Deposition of wax in both onshore and offshore pipelines presents a costly problem in the production and transportation of oil. There are several parameters contributing to wax deposition in multiphase crude oil flow, e.g. pressure drop, flow rate, pipe internal body surface roughness, surface energy of the pipe, liquid wetting of pipe wall as well as temperature difference between fluid and surroundings [1,2]. Application of internal coating of subsea pipelines can reduce wax deposition. The aim of the present work is to experimentally study the wax deposition in Malaysian waxy crude oil, where the data set studied was gathered from several experiments. Most of the methods can be used to remove the paraffinic wax deposition after it occurs. However, insulation systems yielded in better performance as it was found to help in the prevention of heat loss and solid deposition during flow conditionsThis study utilized flow loop apparatus. This paper compared the wax deposition behaviour with temperature, roughness and flow rate within the tested pipes [Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Ethylene - TetraFluoroEthylene (ETFE), and steel as a reference material]. Moreover, the prevention of temperature loss from liquid to surrounding and corrosion control significantly affects pressure drop across the pipeline [3]. The conducted experiments concluded that ETFE had a better effect on the paraffin wax deposition control. Moreover, ETFE as a novel polymer based coating material was economically feasible to be utilized in the oil and gas downstream and upstream systems exposed to wax deposition.

Multifunctional anti-wax coatings for paraffin control in oil pipelines

“…When the flow rate exceeded a critical value, the paraffin deposition rate would decrease rapidly. The experimental results proved the importance of shear stripping in the paraffin deposition in petroleum pipelines (Rashidi et al 2016).…”

“…This is due to the fact that the methyl groups on the surface of the PP reduce the surface density of the hydrogen atoms and hinder the interaction between the alkyl groups and the surface in crude oil. Rashidi et al (2016) studied the effect of the surface roughness of the coating in a submarine pipeline on the deposition of paraffin in Malaysia with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and ethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), and the influence of crude oil cooling rate and flow velocity of different coatings of paraffin deposition (see Fig. 2).…”

“…This was because at lower velocities range, the crude oil is in laminar flow and stays in the pipeline for a longer time. This resulted in more heat loss and a rapid decrease in the temperature of the crude oil, leading to paraffin deposition (Rashidi et al 2016).…”

Design of surfaces for controlling hard and soft fouling

“…This in turn controls the work of adhesion of paraffin on the surface. Rashidi et al [176] recently showed approximately 86% reduction in grams of paraffin wax deposition from Malaysian (Tapis) crude oil on ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene versus steel and PVC. Finally, substrates coated with DLC (surface energy of approx.…”

Depositional Behaviour of Highly Macro-Crystalline Waxy Crude Oil Blended with Polymer Inhibitors in a Pipe with a 45-Degree Bend

“…Therefore, if there is no any prevention or management strategy in place, the precipitated solid could lead to the formation of wax deposit on the surface of the facilities, which could consequently decrease the oil recovery, and increase pumping cost. In the worst-case, the facilities could completely be blocked, causing significantly economic losses that may even lead to abandoning the wells (Adeyemi and Sulaimon, 2012;Matzain et al, 2002;Rashidi et al, 2016;Rittirong et al, 2015;Sanjay et al, 1995;Singh et al, 2000). This particularly occur in a low temperature environment such as the offshore production (Halstensen et al, 2013;Li et al, 2019).…”