Influence of Ethylene Acrylic Alkyl Ester Copolymer Wax Dispersants on the Rhological Behavior of Egyptian Crude Oil

Abstract

A variety of techniques have been employed in order to reduce problems caused by the crystallization of paraffin during the production and/or transportation of paraffin oils and derivatives. Ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, PEAA, was esterified with 1-docosanol, DcA, in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid, PTSA, as a catalyst and xylene as a solvent. The produced ester was characterized by FTIR and ¹H NMR. The polymeric additive was added at different doses ranged from 1000 to 5000 ppm to crude oil to reduce its pour point and viscosity. The copolymer achieved a large reduction in the pour point and the viscosity of samples of Egyptian wax crude oils. The polymer was show good reduction of pour point temperature and viscosity of the crude oil tested depending on the composition of crude oil.

Keywords:

• Ethylene copolymers
• flow improvers
• pour point depressants
• waxy crudes