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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-421-2

International Heat Transfer Conference 15
August, 10-15, 2014, Kyoto, Japan

Turbulent Mass Transfer Model to Predict Wax Deposition in Multiphase Flow in Pipelines

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC15.tpm.008609
pages 8553-8566

Résumé

Highly waxy crude oils can cause significant operational problems such as blockage of a pipeline due to the precipitation and deposition of select wax components during the production and transportation of the crude oil. The cost of wax management is enormous and rapidly increasing because of increased oil production in deep sea areas. Wax management costs can be significantly reduced if wax deposition in pipeline can be accurately predicted. In this research, a wax deposition model was developed using a computational heat and mass transfer analysis. The drift flux model was employed to predict the multiphase flow and the wax deposition was determined based on a convective model. This model accurately predicted the deposition rates for lab scale for bubbly and intermittent flow pattern, with different pipeline inclinations. The deposit thickness predicted with the convective model developed was compared with traditionally employed diffusion model, and better agreement was obtained. An existing oil production well was modeled, and the impact in pressure drop due to cross section area reduction caused by progressive wax deposition on the pipe wall was examined.