Rheological Properties of Waxy Crude at a Low Temperature in the Presence of Pour Point Depressants

Pour point depressants （PPD） are used to improve the theology of waxy crude. The affect of various factors on the theological properties, and the thermal characteristics of waxy crude treated by PPD have been investigated. The conclusions are as follows： PPD can reduce the pour point and abnormal point of waxy crude, broaden the temperature range of Newtonian fluid of waxy crude, and lower greatly the viscosity of non-Newtonian fluid of waxy crude. The influence of reheating and high-rate shear on the effect of PPD mainly depends on their temperature. When the reheating temperature is more than the abnormal point of crude by 10℃, the reheating process has little effect on the modification effect of PPD. However, when the reheating temperature is below the abnormal point of crude, the reheating process will reduce the modification effect of PPD. When temperature is above the abnormal point of crude, the high-rate shear has little effect on the modification effect of PPD. At a temperature range where a lot of wax is precipitating, high-rate shear will greatly reduce the modification effect of PPD.