Mathematical modelling of wax deposition in crude oil pipelines (comparative study)

In this research, war, deposition in different crude oil pipeline systems w as studied. In oil pipelines, the main mechanism for wax appearance is the temperature change along the pipeline. A computer program was developed to simulate the wax precipitation phenomena. Temperature profile along the pip eline was determined and solid liquid equilibrium constant, wax mole fracti on and wax thickness along the pipeline were calculated. This computer prog ram was applied to different crude oil pipeline systems in Iraq (Baiji-Daur a, Rumaila-Zubair-Fao and Haditha-Rumailia). In Haditha-Rumaila crude oil p ipeline system, it was observed that wax thickness after a year is approxim ately 0.1 mm and temperature declined from 303 K to around 300.5 K. The wax mole fraction after a year is approximately 0.2. The solid-liquid equilibr ium constant for the first component around 0.228 and around 165 for the se cond component after a year. Similar results were observed in other crude o il pipeline systems studied.