The study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oil
Abstract The major problem of crude oil (CRO) transport through pipelines is wax crystallization and deposition. Flow improvers are added to waxy CRO in order to reduce handling cost. Bio-based flow improvers derived from cheap renewable resources are attractive as cost-effective, eco-friendly alter...
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SpringerOpen
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-025-01969-x |
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| author | C. F. Uzoh S. U. John H. A. Ezea L. I. Igbonekwu E. M. Madiebo |
| author_facet | C. F. Uzoh S. U. John H. A. Ezea L. I. Igbonekwu E. M. Madiebo |
| author_sort | C. F. Uzoh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The major problem of crude oil (CRO) transport through pipelines is wax crystallization and deposition. Flow improvers are added to waxy CRO in order to reduce handling cost. Bio-based flow improvers derived from cheap renewable resources are attractive as cost-effective, eco-friendly alternatives to the conventional additives. Soybean oil (SBO) and castor oil (CAO) was derivatized and applied as bio-based flow improver for waxy CRO. The SBO, CAO and the CRO used in this study were characterized for their fatty acid using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID). Effectiveness of SBO and CAO as flow improver was studied in terms of flowability (% viscosity reduction) and rheological (% gel strength reduction) properties at four operational variables: temperature (30–40 °C), additive concentration (0.1–1.9v/v), shear rate (30–100 rpm), gelling time (0.2–10 min). Experiments were conducted as per central composite design (CCD), and the data was used for model building. Optimization via response surface methodology (RSM) was studied where percentage (%) viscosity and gel strength reduction were monitored as responses from the finding equations of the CCD. The effect of SBO and CAO as a flow improver on the CRO was analyzed in comparison with Xylene. The bio-based treated CRO showed a remarkable improvement in flow characteristic of the CRO. The transition to the optimum % viscosity reduction of 82.58% (SBO), 87.71% (CAO), and 85.25% (Xylene) were achieved at a temperature of 30oC, additive concentration of 0.1(v/v), gelling time of 5.1 min and the shear rate of 65 rpm for SBO and CAO, but 82.2 rpm for xylene. Similarly, the optimum % gel strength reduction of ≥ 94% for SBO and CAO, but for 95% (Xylene) were achieved at a temperature of 33oC, additive concentration of 0.1(v/v) for SBO and CAO but 0.56 for xylene, gelling time of 10 min for SBO and CAO but 9.38 for xylene and the shear rate of 30 rpm for SBO, 45.46 for CAO and 43.73 for xylene. Corresponding experiments conducted with these optimal conditions show that the actual results of % viscosity (82.58, 87.71 and 85.25%) and % gel strength (94.36, 94.89 and 95.79%) for SBO, CAO and xylene respectively, were in reasonable agreement with the theoretical results of RSM % viscosity (85, 83 and 87%) and % gel strength (95, 96.5 and 98%) for SBO, CAO and xylene, respectively. The study demonstrated the potential of bio-based additives as viable alternatives to conventional flow improvers for waxy crude oil. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c91b5e2b2c8b40cebc2532011137f340 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2190-0558 2190-0566 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c91b5e2b2c8b40cebc2532011137f3402025-08-20T03:14:09ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology2190-05582190-05662025-03-0115412710.1007/s13202-025-01969-xThe study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oilC. F. Uzoh0S. U. John1H. A. Ezea2L. I. Igbonekwu3E. M. Madiebo4Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe UniversityChemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe UniversityChemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe UniversityChemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe UniversityChemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe UniversityAbstract The major problem of crude oil (CRO) transport through pipelines is wax crystallization and deposition. Flow improvers are added to waxy CRO in order to reduce handling cost. Bio-based flow improvers derived from cheap renewable resources are attractive as cost-effective, eco-friendly alternatives to the conventional additives. Soybean oil (SBO) and castor oil (CAO) was derivatized and applied as bio-based flow improver for waxy CRO. The SBO, CAO and the CRO used in this study were characterized for their fatty acid using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID). Effectiveness of SBO and CAO as flow improver was studied in terms of flowability (% viscosity reduction) and rheological (% gel strength reduction) properties at four operational variables: temperature (30–40 °C), additive concentration (0.1–1.9v/v), shear rate (30–100 rpm), gelling time (0.2–10 min). Experiments were conducted as per central composite design (CCD), and the data was used for model building. Optimization via response surface methodology (RSM) was studied where percentage (%) viscosity and gel strength reduction were monitored as responses from the finding equations of the CCD. The effect of SBO and CAO as a flow improver on the CRO was analyzed in comparison with Xylene. The bio-based treated CRO showed a remarkable improvement in flow characteristic of the CRO. The transition to the optimum % viscosity reduction of 82.58% (SBO), 87.71% (CAO), and 85.25% (Xylene) were achieved at a temperature of 30oC, additive concentration of 0.1(v/v), gelling time of 5.1 min and the shear rate of 65 rpm for SBO and CAO, but 82.2 rpm for xylene. Similarly, the optimum % gel strength reduction of ≥ 94% for SBO and CAO, but for 95% (Xylene) were achieved at a temperature of 33oC, additive concentration of 0.1(v/v) for SBO and CAO but 0.56 for xylene, gelling time of 10 min for SBO and CAO but 9.38 for xylene and the shear rate of 30 rpm for SBO, 45.46 for CAO and 43.73 for xylene. Corresponding experiments conducted with these optimal conditions show that the actual results of % viscosity (82.58, 87.71 and 85.25%) and % gel strength (94.36, 94.89 and 95.79%) for SBO, CAO and xylene respectively, were in reasonable agreement with the theoretical results of RSM % viscosity (85, 83 and 87%) and % gel strength (95, 96.5 and 98%) for SBO, CAO and xylene, respectively. The study demonstrated the potential of bio-based additives as viable alternatives to conventional flow improvers for waxy crude oil.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-025-01969-xFlow improverPour point depressantProcess optimizationWaxy crude oil |
| spellingShingle | C. F. Uzoh S. U. John H. A. Ezea L. I. Igbonekwu E. M. Madiebo The study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oil Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology Flow improver Pour point depressant Process optimization Waxy crude oil |
| title | The study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oil |
| title_full | The study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oil |
| title_fullStr | The study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oil |
| title_full_unstemmed | The study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oil |
| title_short | The study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oil |
| title_sort | study of the effectiveness of soybean oil and castor oil as flow improvers for waxy petroleum crude oil |
| topic | Flow improver Pour point depressant Process optimization Waxy crude oil |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-025-01969-x |
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