Flow assurance

Novel Polymer Modifications Lead to Next-Generation Pour-Point Depressants

Current logistics and pipeline-infrastructure limitations make transportation and production of waxy crude oil challenging, necessitating a step change in the chemistry required to mitigate crude-oil-composition issues.

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Fig. 2—Examples of PPD polymer solutions based on PSMA-1822 and PSMA-1822/2-tetradecyl octadecanol (70/30) (70% active) in xylene.

Current logistics and pipeline-infrastructure limitations make transportation and production of waxy crude oil challenging, necessitating a step change in the chemistry required to mitigate crude-oil-composition issues. For wax prevention, pour-point depressants (PPDs) or wax inhibitors usually are used. A new approach makes use of a special hydrophobe modification in typical polymer systems that significantly broadens the systems’ applicability.

Introduction

Several wax-control strategies are available in the oil industry. Waxy crude oils are sometimes mixed with a diluent to avoid deposits.

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