Experimental and Simulation Studies on the Use of Plant Oils as Flow Improver for Waxy Crude Oil

Abstract Alteration of thermodynamic equilibrium conditions, most especially, temperature, during production and transportation of crude oil could cause destabilization, precipitation, and deposition of wax. This could affect the flow properties of the crude oil including the viscosity, pour point, and may eventually cause total blockage of the flow lines. In this investigation, synthetic waxy crude oil (containing different concentrations of dissolved paraffin wax (5 – 20% wt./wt.) was doped with selected plant seed oils, namely, Castor oil, Moringa oil and Coconut oil (0 – 1.5% v/v). The efficiency of each of the additives to improve the flow properties was compared with those of commercial flow improver, Triethanolamine (TEA). In addition, similar process was modelled and simulated using HYSYS process simulator. It was found that Moringa and Castro oils show good results to improve the pour point. On the other hand, the Coconut oil was observed to have negative effect by increasing the pour point of the oil. Ultimately, experimental studies reveal the potential of the plant oil to improve the flow properties of the waxy oil, while the simulation studies confirm the potential of the plant oil to reduce wax deposition volume and thickness, viscosity, and total pressure drop.