Authors

Dr.Maher Saadeh
Eng . Abdulsalam Hichieh

Abstract

Paraffinic crude oil containing significant quantities of paraffin and asphaltene shows non-Newtonian behavior during its transportation by pipeline and may cause different problems. Paraffin deposition is a well-known phenomenon that plagues the oil industry all over the world. Once the socalled wax (paraffin) appearance temperature (WAT) ofcrude is reached, paraffin crystallization starts and, below this temperature, a potential to generate a paraffin deposit by the crude is developed, as a result crude viscosity and yield stress increase.Wax crystals normally have a needle-like shape, and if they remain as single crystals they tend to disperse in the crude instead of depositing on the pipe surface .Those needle-shaped paraffin crystals are able to form a three-dimensional netting that leads to the stop-flowing material that may deposit in the formation or stick to the pipe wall.