Polyethylene-Co-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) and Nanoparticle Effect on Wax Deposition: A Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulation Approach

Abstract Wax buildup is a worldwide concern in oil pipelines, spanning from subsea to processing facilities, leading to decreased oil production rates. An effective way to prevent the formation of solid wax mandates the use of chemical wax inhibitors. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to investigate how poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and sodium cloisite (Na+) nanoparticles (NPs) collaborate to inhibit wax formation. The simulations involved examining the behavior of EVA molecules, both with and without the incorporation of NPs, in conjunction with wax molecules. This investigation aimed to elucidate the intermolecular interactions, which influence wax formation and deformation, through radial distribution function (rdf) analysis. The outcomes revealed a substantial shift in the interaction between H59•••H60 in the EVA/NP and wax system, progressing from 2.75 Å in the pure wax system to 3.25 Å. This shift signifies the significant impact of wax inhibitors and nanoparticles in the tertiary system on wax-wax interactions. Consequently, the findings from the cold finger test corroborate that the EVA/NP blend results in the least wax deposition, which is further supported by the simulation results. In conclusion, the incorporation of nanoparticles with wax inhibitors emerges as an efficacious approach for mitigating wax deposition challenges within the oil and gas industry.