GEL STRENGTH ANALYSIS UTILISING TEST FLOW LOOP FOR HIGH POUR POINT CRUDE

Zainun Yusof, Duhita Sharma, Chung Chie Min.

Petronas Research and Scientific Services Sdn Bhd, Selangor, Malaysia.

Waxy crude has been produced for many decades in this world. In the case of prolonged shutdown, the crystallization of the waxy crude oil takes place and hinders the oil production. This high pour point crude has the tendency to gel during extended period of shutdown and this may pose a risk in plugging the pipeline. When the crude oil ceases to flow, its temperature will drop until a point when it starts to gel due to the formation of crystal networks entrapping the oil and this fluid can be characterized as Bingham plastic in nature.

     In this study, a circulating test flow loop was used to determine the gel strength of the high pour point crude oil under various cooling conditions using the ½” and ¾” circular test sections. The flow loop experiment has been used to derive the basis for gel strength and temperature dependence for this high pour point crude as well as to determine optimum operating conditions and de-plugging requirements in the case of extended shutdown.