Simulation Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient in Surface Pipeline System

Flow assurance issues are critical and difficult problem in oil and gas industry especially in estimating and predicting the wax formation as well as its physicochemical characteristics. Wax deposition occurs as the fluid heat can be rapidly lost to the surrounding if there is no thermal insulation layer surrounding the pipe wall and the temperature drops below the crude oil cloud point temperature.
This study will be focusing on determining and explain the new effective way of eliminating paraffin deposition based on its thermal conductivity by utilizing a novel polymer which called Ethylene-TetraFluoroEthylene (ETFE). Furthermore, comparisons on the characteristic of heat transfer are carried out between four types of pipes materials – steel pipe, PVC pipe, PolyTetraFluoroEthylen (PTFE) and ETFE plastic pipe coated.
Comparatively, most of the methods can be used to prevent and remove the paraffin deposition. However, insulation systems gave better performance as it was found helping in prevent heat loss and solid deposition during flow conditions.