Summary of Existing Information on Handling Congealing Oils and Paraffin

Abstract

All crude oils become more viscous when chilled, but the only oils thatcongeal and precipitate paraffin to such an extent as actually to causeproduction troubles are those that contain an appreciable amount of wax.In handling these oils of high wax content, three distinct problems may beencountered before the oil reaches the refinery. The first problem is theprecipitation and accumulation of paraffin in the well, either in the oilstring or on the face and in the pores of the sand. The second problem is theaccumulation of paraffin and the congealing of oil in the transportation lines.The third problem is the precipitation of paraffin and the formation of tankbottoms.