Next Generation Pour Point Depressants Based on Novel Polymer Modifications

Abstract

Abstract Current logistics and pipeline infrastructure limitations make waxy crude oil transportation and production challenging and require a step change in the chemistry required to mitigate crude oil composition issues. For wax prevention, usually pour point depressants (PPD) or wax inhibitors are applied. A new approach makes use of special hydrophobe modification in typical polymer systems, which significantly broadens their applicability. Commonly known PPD polymer systems have been modified with special branched and linear heavy alcohols following standard synthesis protocols. Pour point depressants, mostly solvent-based polymer mixtures, are sometimes applied to crude oil production and transportation systems in extreme environments where the viscosity and pour point of the PPD itself is critical. The work presents especially the introduction of heavy alcohols in combination with 2-alkyl branched long-chain alcohols in polymer systems. The performance of these newly hydrophobically modified PPDs were compared with standard polymer systems using laboratory test procedures like pour point, temperature dependent viscosity or yield stress by using model oil samples. The performance studies showed that by introducing the 2-alkyl branching into the polymer system, the overall performance of such PPDs will be boosted and the pour point of the PPD itself will be decreased drastically. These hydrophobe-modified polymer systems enables the production of liquid and high active PPDs containing long alkyl chains for enhanced interaction with the high carbon number paraffin of the waxy crude oils.