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High paraffin wax content in crude oil creates a variety of
problems during production and transportation through pipelines. One of the
main problems is the crystallization and deposition of paraffin wax crystals in
the flow line which is more severe in winter. Low ambient temperature relative
to pour point of the crude can cause pumping problems. The pour point and rheological
properties of the crude oil can be improved by adding requisite amount of a
pour point depressant (PPD). The present study deals with the synthesis of
copolymers of maleic anhydride and esters of n-alkyl alcohols and
unsaturated acid (C11H20O2). The resulted
copolymers were esterified with two moles of fatty alcohol (C19H36O8).
The products were evaluated as pour point depressant and flow improver on the
Akholjuni crude oil (Gujarat,
India). The
pour point and rheological behaviour of the crude oil with these prepared
additives were studied. The results were encouraging up to the optimum length
of pendant side chains of PPD.
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