Paraffin inhibitor formulations for different application environments: from extreme ariic temperatures to heated injection in the desert(Abstract)

摘要

Paraffin inhibitors are used in petroleum production operations to reduce wax deposition and/or reduce viscosity or complete gelling of high wax-content petroleum fluids. When the treatment is for viscosity reduction/gell prevention, the paraffin inhibitor is commonly called a pour point depressant. The active chemistries of paraffin inhibitor/pour point depressant products are specialty polymers which alter the wax crystallization process; thereby changing the characteristics of wax deposition or wax gell network formation. These polymers are typically formulated in a carrier fluid such that the product can be easily pumped and injected into petroleum streams. Most commonly the paraffin inhibitor polymer is dissolved in a solvent. The formulations must, however, be suitable for the particular application environment. These environments and the resulting constraints placed on the formulation can vary widely.