Optimal Formulation of a Wax Deposition Inhibitor using Design of Experiment Approach

Wax deposition in crude oil production and transportation pipelines from offshore to onshore facilities is a serious concern in the oil and gas industry, especially under low temperature conditions. Despite the different methods adopted to mitigate this problem, the use of wax inhibitors is generally accepted to be the most efficient solution to this problem. The aim of this study was to develop a wax inhibitor optimally formulated from two bio-based precursors (jatropha oil and castor oil) and xylene. The bio-based precursors used to formulate the inhibitors (jatropha oil and castor oil) were extracted from the respective oil-bearing seeds via Soxhlet extraction and they were subsequently characterised to elucidate their properties. The formulation of the wax inhibitor was done according to a three variable D-Optimal mixture design. The independent variables considered were the components of the mixture while the response was the viscosity of the inhibitor-doped crude oil. The inhibitor was optimally formulated from a mix of 20.50% jatropha oil, 39.50% castor oil and 40% xylene. The formulated inhibitor was able to reduce the viscosity of crude oil by 62.8%, thus demonstrating its excellent capability as a flow improver.