(29f) Predicting High-Pressure Wax Deposition in Crude Oil Pipelines

Wax deposition is a significant challenge in crude oil production, processing, and transportation, occurring when oil temperature drops below the wax appearance temperature (WAT). This leads to pipeline clogging, pressure losses, reduced flow capacity, and economic setbacks, particularly under high-pressure conditions where phase behavior and precipitation kinetics vary considerably. This study aims to understand the pressure effect on deposition behavior by integrating the experimental precipitation curve acquired at pressures ranging from 1 bar to 900 bar with the existing deposition model available in an in-house developed simulator. This analysis contributes to refining high-pressure wax deposition modeling, supporting the development of optimized mitigation strategies, improved inhibitor selection, and enhanced pipeline design for flow assurance in petroleum transport systems.