Thermal Testing of Wax Layer Thickness in Crude Oil Pipeline

Abstract

This article investigates thermal detection method for wax layer thickness inside pipeline. Crude oil temperature decreases as it flows through pipeline and this causes the wax to precipitate out of solution. Wax deposition increases the viscosity significantly near the wall as it solidifies. The proposed method of thermal wax testing of different operating conditions is investigated through this research. In order to determine the layer thickness using fluid and heat transfer analysis and obtain velocity and temperature distributions, mathematical modelling is achieved. The effect of different layer thicknesses on temperature and flow characteristic such as velocity and pressure distribution are examined in this study. The method is examined for different Reynold numbers and flow characteristic and wax thickness are examined. The proposed method is expected to be accurate, efficient and cost effective for online testing of wax layer thickness which find immediate utility in oil and gas operation.