A comprehensive review of wax deposition in crude oil systems: Mechanisms, influencing factors, prediction and inhibition techniques

Abstract

This paper reviews research on wax deposition in recent years in an attempt to develop an in-depth understanding of the wax deposition phenomenon during pipeline transportation of waxy crude oil. It provides a comparative analysis of the current theories and shortcomings of the wax deposition mechanism and describes the effects of different influencing factors on wax deposition. The predictive models for wax deposition are summarized in both thermodynamic and kinetic models, and the current technical means and main conclusions for inhibiting wax deposition are outlined in detail. In addition, the paper also sums up the experimental methods commonly used in studying wax deposition. Future research directions are proposed: an in-depth study of the role of non-Newtonian features and Phase transition (heat transfer) in wax deposition and the microscopic mechanisms of wax deposition phenomena such as gelation and nucleation are needed. Moreover, the intrinsic mechanisms and action law of influencing factors such as asphalt, resin, electric field, magnetic field, and velocity should also be studied, and research about chemical inhibitors is supposed to be based on the green economy. Multiphase flow prediction models using intelligent algorithms should be established, and more accurate experimental methods and devices that meet actual pipeline flow conditions.