Flow behaviour of wax-stabilized emulsions- rheology, microstructure and product stability

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Current growth for Canadian oil and gas exploration and production is taking place in extreme situations, namely in ultra-deep water, in Arctic environments, and in remote locations where cold (sub-zero) temperatures and long pipelines are common. At low temperatures, wax-like compounds present in crude oil may solidify and deposit on the inner wall of pipelines leading to a reduction in throughput and potentially outright blockage. Pipeline development for these harsh environments requires a high degree of certainty on the reliability of the pipeline system and preventative measures designed to avoid plugging. The present research focusses on novel means of preventing this problem, by using a fundamental scientific approach to understand how compounds in crude oil solidify within pipelines. With a greater focus on Arctic and Atlantic exploration, the results of this research will aid the Canadian petrochemical industry implement strategies minimising downtime associated with pipeline blockage.