Unraveling Complex N-Paraffin Mixtures: T-Sep Method and Blended Polymer Base Wax Inhibitor for Resolving Wax Deposition in Pipeline

Abstract Wax deposition, particularly in cold environments, poses a significant challenge in the oil and gas industry, often leading to solid blockages within pipelines. Chemical inhibitors have emerged as effective mitigation strategies, yet no single inhibitor can address all types of crude oil. This study investigates the performance of a novel blended polymer-based wax inhibitor in preventing precipitation and deposition in a pipeline flow rig with varying curvatures. Prior to the flow rig study, the composition of waxy crude oil was analyzed using the T-SEP® technique, enabling precise quantification of n-paraffin distribution and wax content, thereby resolving complex mixtures. Various commercial chemical inhibitors underwent initial screening, comparing properties such as pour point, wax appearance temperature, crystal morphology, and viscosity. Experiments conducted at different concentrations (500, 1000, 1300, 1500, and 1800 ppm) demonstrated a significant reduction in wax deposition. Specifically, at 1500 ppm concentration, 80% of the wax deposition problem was mitigated under adverse conditions of 15°C. At a higher temperature of 25°C (pour point) and a lower concentration (500 ppm), 100% wax prevention was achieved. In the laminar flow regime, 100% wax deposition prevention was observed at higher concentrations of 1000 and 1500 ppm at 30°C. These results highlight the promising performance of the blended polymer-based wax inhibitor in addressing wax deposition challenges in pipeline systems, highlighting the efficacy of the T-Sep method in resolving complex mixtures.