Pipeline wax deposition modeling: A sensitivity study on two commercial software

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a sensitivity study carried out to investigate the performances of two commercial codes, OLGA and LedaFlow, used to model the wax deposition process in pipelines under multiphase flow. Reliable simulations of the phenomenon are essential to properly design pipelines and to adopt cost-effective strategies for prevention and removal of wax deposits, reducing the risks of blockage. The main limit of the available models is that their predictions depend on a number of parameters which are usually adjusted to fit the experimental data obtained from laboratory deposition tests. Since a reliable upscale criterion has not been developed yet, model predictions have been more suitably validated using real field data, reported in literature. The performances of the commercial codes in modelling wax precipitation and deposition have been compared to each other.