Validation of Wax Deposition Model by a Field Test

Hsu, J.J.C.; Lian, Shengjiang; Liu, M.; Bi, He; Guo, Chunqiu

doi:10.2118/48867-ms

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…This would lead to the gelation, deposition, and blocking of pipeline in macroscopic presentation, and seriously affected the safe and economic operation. The above snapshots and RDF analysis results were basically consistent with the experimental results of Singh, Hénau, and Hsu, which also showed the accuracy of the analysis results in this paper. − …”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 89%

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Waxy Crude Oil Multiphase System Depositing and Sticking on Pipeline Inner Walls and the Micro Influence Mechanism of Surface Physical–Chemical Characteristics

et al. 2021

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For ensuring the safe and stable operation of waxy crude oil pipeline transportation, in this research, the molecular dynamics model was established to characterize the deposition and wall sticking behavior of waxy crude oil multiphase system pipeline transportation. The equal density interpolation fitting method was proposed to determine the wall contact angle of simulation results. Through verification, the error between the simulation results and the experimental results measured by Dos Santos et al. (2006) was less than 5%, which showed that the established model was accurate and reliable. Using the established model, the deposition and wall sticking behavior of waxy crude oil nucleated clusters was simulated. It was found that the nucleated clusters would first adhere to the wall surface to form the solidified oil layer. Then, the wax and asphaltene molecules would diffuse to the deposit layer, and the oil molecules in the solidified oil layer reverse diffused to the direction of the oil flow. With the adhering and spreading degree of clusters on the wall surface increasing, the deposit layer gradually aged, and the gelled deposit layer with a higher density and hardness would form. On this basis, the micro influence mechanism of the surface free energy was studied. It was found that the higher the surface free energy, the more hydrophilic the pipeline wall was, and the higher the adhesion degree would be. Moreover, based on the ABF sampling and the potential of mean force calculations, the selective deposition process of waxy crude oil deposited on the sedimentary layer was studied. The micro information on the deposition sites, the binding conformation, and the binding energy of different molecules in clusters deposited on different molecules in sedimentary layer were analyzed. The investigations in this study could provide theoretical support for paraffin removal and control, which could ensure the safe and stable operation of the waxy crude oil production system.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 89%

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Waxy Crude Oil Multiphase System Depositing and Sticking on Pipeline Inner Walls and the Micro Influence Mechanism of Surface Physical–Chemical Characteristics

et al. 2021

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“…As waxy crude oil continues to flow through the inner face of the tube, more and more sedimentary layers would accumulate and age, leading to gelling, deposition, and blockage of the pipeline. The above snapshot analysis results were basically consistent with the experimental results of Singh et al, Hénaut et al, and Hsu et al, which also showed the accuracy of the analysis results of MD simulation. − …”

Section: Simulation Of Radial Deposition and Adhesion Processsupporting

confidence: 89%

Molecular Dynamics Study on the Radial Deposition and Adhesion Process for the Waxy Crude Oil Tube Transport System and Effect-Principle of Features in Construction

Cheng

Gan²,

Wang

et al. 2021

Energy Fuels

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In order to explore the micro-dynamic principle of radial deposition and adhesion behavior and analyze the effect-principle of the features in construction of rough tube surfaces on each link, a molecular dynamic model was established to characterize this behavior. On this basis, the deposition and adhesion behavior of the homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation clusters were simulated, respectively. Research showed that the waxy crude oil could settle on the inner tube, and after a series of actions of oil molecules adhering to the inner face of the tube to form the pure oil in its solidified state, the sediment layer contained the wax and asphaltene molecules owing to their diffusion process, the pure oil in its solidified state back diffused to the oil transport flow, the adhesion extent of the sediment on the inner face gradually strengthened, the sediment layer that adhered to the wall gradually aged, and the sediment gradually hardened with an increased density. Furthermore, the distribution and variation principle of different types of energy in the process of adhesion were analyzed. The effect-principle of features in construction (different wall morphologies, phase area fractions, and grooved column heights) on the adhesion strength level, wetting pattern, and hydrophobicity of clusters was studied.

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“…Hsu and co-workers – also started from the concept of mass diffusion, but they emphasized on the basis of their observations that shearing of deposited wax, or prevention of deposition, must be considered in cases of turbulent flow. Most pipelines operate in the turbulent region in normal production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating Wax Deposition in Pipelines for Flow Assurance

Edmonds¹,

Moorwood²,

Szczepanski³

et al. 2007

Energy Fuels

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A method is presented for simulating wax deposition in pipelines in which the wax phase is represented as a continuous distribution of n-paraffin components. The thermodynamic properties of the wax are predicted using a previously developed thermodynamic model. We have adopted a mass transfer model to predict the likely rate of wax deposition. Predictions from the model are compared with observations of flow-loop experiments, and predictions for full-scale pipelines are presented. The impact of the removal of deposited wax by shearing is also investigated. We demonstrate the effect of assuming molecular diffusion to be the dominant mechanism of wax deposition, and we also show that not representing the wax with its full n-paraffin distribution leads to serious distortions of the pipeline simulations. Practical software development issues in the implementation of the model are outlined.

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Validation of Wax Deposition Model by a Field Test

Cited by 12 publications

References 2 publications

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Waxy Crude Oil Multiphase System Depositing and Sticking on Pipeline Inner Walls and the Micro Influence Mechanism of Surface Physical–Chemical Characteristics

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Waxy Crude Oil Multiphase System Depositing and Sticking on Pipeline Inner Walls and the Micro Influence Mechanism of Surface Physical–Chemical Characteristics

Molecular Dynamics Study on the Radial Deposition and Adhesion Process for the Waxy Crude Oil Tube Transport System and Effect-Principle of Features in Construction

Simulating Wax Deposition in Pipelines for Flow Assurance

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