Synthesis and characterization of polymeric additives based on α-Olefin as pour point depressant for Egyptian waxy crude oil

Several strategies have been utilized to minimize the problems that causes losses of billions of dollars per year to the petroleum industry. Octadecene (OD) copolymerizes with styrene (S) at variable ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and its copolymers were obtained from alkylation by Friedel-Craft followed by esterification and amidation. Infrared spectra (IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were performed to characterize the end products. Waxy crude oil (Blank PPT = 27°C) from NQ7 well, Qarun Petroleum Company, Western Desert, Egypt, was studied, and the results indicate that crude oil treated with the prepared copolymers at dosage 2,000 ppm depresses PPT to 6°C and enhances the paraffin inhibition (PI) to 80% compared with blank. Good results are obtained by using the highest molecular weight copolymer compared with others.