Simulation and evaluation for the application of depressants to high pour point crude Oil

In the crude oil pipeline transportation system of some eastern oilfield, the transportation process with station-to-station pressurizing and heating was adopted, which was energy-consumed. The integration process of heating and injecting pour point depressant (PPD) were proposed to improve the running benefits. However, the PPD's application effectiveness was not so optimistic due to the poor properties of crude oil and repeated heating and pressurizing during the transportation process. The real operation state of the pipeline system was simulated and the application effectiveness of PPD was evaluated. The results indicated that the effectiveness of PPD was available when the selected PPD had a concentration of 50 mg/L with a heat treatment temperature of 75℃. The set point of mixed oil from different pumping stations was depressed by 8~13℃, and the wax precipitation point was depressed over 4℃. The site condition had little influence on the application effectiveness of PPD. And the usage of PPD had no unfavorable effectiveness upon the dehydration of demulsifying agents.