Perspective for using Nd–Fe–B magnets as a tool for the improvement of the production and transportation of Vietnamese crude oil with high paraffin content

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Vol. 327; no. 2; pp. 443 - 447
• Main Authors: Tung, N.P, Vinh, N.Q, Phong, N.T.P, Long, B.Q.K, Hung, P.V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-04-2003
• Subjects: Crude oil pour point; Magnetic treatment (MT); Paraffin (wax) deposition; Magnetic treatment (MT); Crude oil pour point; Paraffin (wax) deposition
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/S0921-4526(02)01788-X

Controlling the paraffin deposition is one of the most serious and costly problems for high-paraffin crude-oil production and transportation. This holds especially for offshore, deep-water wells and pipelines, like in Vietnam. For finding solutions for these problems, a series of experiments has been performed in order to study the effects of a magnetic field on the rheology of two often produced crude oil samples, using the high and variable magnetic-flux density of a Nd–Fe–B magnet. The resulting changes in the essential characteristics of the magnetically treated (MT) crude oils, like form and size of the paraffin clusters as well as the rheology parameters, have definitely proved the possibility to use a Nd–Fe–B magnetic tool as an environmentally friendly and effective method to control the paraffin deposition in crude oils of Vietnam that have a high paraffin content.