Progress on Wax Deposition Characteristics and Prediction Methods for Crude Oil Pipelines

During the pipeline transport of high-wax crude oil, paraffin precipitation often results in deposit formation, and a thorough investigation into the issue of wax deposition is crucial for ensuring the safe operation and economic benefits of the pipeline. This work critically reviews the latest research progress focusing on the mechanisms, the factors influencing it, and the kinetic models used to describe it. Although research on single-phase crude oil wax deposition has made certain progress both domestically and internationally, existing studies have limitations in terms of the diversity of crude oil types. In previous studies, the types of crude oil used to explore influencing factors were relatively singular. When modeling, the diversity of crude oil properties was not fully considered, leading to a lack of general applicability of the established models across different types of crude oil. To overcome this limitation, future research should place greater emphasis on the diversity of crude oil properties. Specifically, it is necessary to collect and analyze wax deposition data from a wider variety of crude oils and delve into the mechanisms by which different crude oil properties influence the wax deposition process. Therefore, future research needs to further take into account the diversity of crude oil properties and establish kinetic models that are quantitatively correlated with these properties. This will contribute to more accurate prediction and assessment of wax deposition risks during pipeline transportation for various types of crude oil, thereby providing robust assurance for the safe operation of pipelines.