Comparative Evaluation of Ethylene Glycol and Diethanolamine Modified African Pear Seed Oil as Pour Point Depressants for Waxy Crude Oil

The pour point depression of a Nigeria waxy crude oil was investigated using modified African pear seed oil. Waxy Crude oil sample collected from a marginal field in Delta state. African pear seeds sourced from Choba Port Harcourt were extracted from their oil content and the oil was modified using ethylene glycol and diethanolamine via the esterification and aminolysis reaction respectively. These modified products were applied as pour point depressants. The waxy crude oil was dosed with the modified African pear seed oil of concentrations 0.1ml, 0.2ml and 0.3 ml. The result showed a reduction in the pour point of the crude oil from; 21oC to 14oC and 21oC to 13oC for crude oils dosed with modified with ethylene glycol and diethanolamine respectively. The result also confirms that the concentration of the depressant does not affect the pour point. The modified product with diethanolamine was a better depressant compared to ethylene glycol modified products.