An Experimental Study on Wax Deposition of Water in Waxy Crude Oil Emulsions

The key factors affecting wax deposition of water-in-oil emulsion were studied experimentally using a cold finger device. Wax deposition characteristics of emulsions were obtained. The results showed that the wax deposition profile of emulsions as a function of temperature parameters was similar to that of single oil. However, the effect of the extent of water cut on wax deposition was obviously different at different temperatures. Furthermore, the relative mass of deposit was proposed and found independent of water cut, from which wax deposition rate at different water cuts could be predicted and the predicted values were in good agreement with experimental data.