Investigating the Effect of Okra Mucilage on Waxy Oil Flow in Pipeline

Abstract

Wax deposition in the pipeline is one of the petroleum production system's most serious flow assurance issues. Wax deposition limits crude oil flow through the pipeline, resulting in unusual pressure conditions and an artificial barrier that reduces or stops production. This study discusses the effect of okra mucilage on preventing wax deposition in the waxy pipeline.  Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) analysis were done to characterize the okra mucilage as a wax inhibitor. An experimental flow loop system was fabricated to study the wax inhibition potential of okra mucilage. The wax deposition thickness was measured using the pressure drop method. After the experimental completion, the effectiveness was calculated. The FTIR result showed that sugar components (galactose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid) found in the okra were the reason that made the okra slimy and slippery. This characteristic reduces the surface roughness, reducing wax deposition in the pipeline. Based on the result of the experiment, it was shown that using the diluted okra powder as wax inhibition is more effective than using okra mucilage. The correlated effectiveness of the result using diluted okra powder was approximately 10% more effective than using okra mucilage. Diluted okra powder gives 40.79% effectiveness; compared to okra mucilage, which was 30.75%. These results indicate that the diluted okra powder is a cost-efficient plant-based substitute inhibitor against wax inhibition in oil flow pipes and has good wax inhibition capabilities.