Novel allyl-ester-based polymers as flow improvers for waxy crude oil

The deposition of paraffin wax from crude oil at low temperatures due to wax deposition, high pour point, high viscosity, and weak flow capability is among the critical and persisting challenges faced by the petroleum industry. In this study, a new para-decyloxy allyl benzoate (I10) was prepared, polymerized into HI10, and copolymerized with dioctadecyl maleate into MHI10 via the free-radical polymerization method employing azobisisobutyronitrile and toluene as the initiator and solvent, respectively. The prepared monomer was characterized by spectroscopic analyses (Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR)) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. Further, the polymers were characterized by FT-IR, and their average molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The prepared compounds were taken in different concentrations and then tested as flow improvers of Qarun waxy crude oil using pour point depression and rheological parameters. The results of this test indicated that MHI10 exerted the highest effect on pour point reduction and the rheological parameters (yield value and apparent viscosity). Moreover, an increase in the efficiency of the additives was observed after increasing their concentration from 1000 to 5000 ppm.