ISSN Online: 2377-424X
ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-421-2
International Heat Transfer Conference 15
Turbulent Mass Transfer Model to Predict Wax Deposition in Multiphase Flow in Pipelines
Abstract
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.