When waxy crude oil becomes a gel, predicting a restart pressure in pipelines has been a challenge. The formation of gas voids within the gel following sufficient cooling has an impact on the restarting pressure. This study is aimed at analyzing the effects of cooling rates on voids in waxy crude oil using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique. The flow loop rig simulating offshore oil production was designed. Waxy crude oil underwent cooling through the same temperature range to observe the effects of cooling rates on voids formed. Cooling rates were found to have different influence on the formation of voids. A maximum total voids volume of 6.96% was formed at cooling rate of 1.00°C/min. Cooling rate of 0.55°C/min resulted in a minimum voids volume of 5.74% near pipe wall. Higher cooling rates generally produced higher voids volume near pipe wall and in entire pipe. However, there was no definite trend observed for the voids around pipe core at which slower cooling rates were also observed forming higher voids volume.
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