IBP2168_17

MULTPOINT TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR DETERMINING

THE BEGINNING OF PARAFFIN DEPOSITION IN OIL
PIPELINE
Lorena L. O. Soares , Luiz C. S. Soares Júnior , Iuri M. Pepe3, Acbal R.
1 2

A. Achy4, Ednildo A. Torres5

Copyright 2017, Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Institute - IBP

This Technical Paper was prepared for presentation at the Rio Pipeline Conference & Exhibition 2017, held between
October, 24-26, 2017, in Rio de Janeiro. This Technical Paper was selected for presentation by the Technical Committee
of the event. The material as it is presented, does not necessarily represent Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels
Institute’ opinion or that of its Members or Representatives. Authors consent to the publication of this Technical Paper in
the Rio Pipeline Conference & Exhibition 2017.

Abstract
In the petroleum industry occurrence of paraffin deposition in pipes persists as a problem to be solved. The wax
deposition in pipelines causes decrease on flow rate and equipment damage, determining a consequent increasing in the
costs of oil production. Low temperatures in external environment are the main cause of paraffin deposition, such as in
deep waters oil exploitation. Through the temperature gradient between the center and the surface of the oil
transportation pipe, it is possible to predict the beginning of paraffin deposition. In order to accomplish this objective a
multipoint sensor, composed by six RTD sensors (Pt-100s) was designed, developed and assembled. The tests of this
multipoint sensor were done in a flow-loop paraffin plant, developed by the Laboratory of Optical Properties - LaPO of
UFBA. The multipoint temperature sensor tests showed its ability to determine the beginning of paraffin deposition, by
the analysis of the temperature gradient profile measured by its Pt-100s.

1. Introduction
Off-shore oil production has been increased due to growing field discovery in deepwater, far from the coast.
Low temperature outside reservoir can cause lifting and out flowing problems of the oil production, paraffin deposition
on oil pipes appears as the most important cause of those problems, as paraffin crystals precipitation is mainly
temperature dependent (Huang et al., 2015).
Paraffin deposition is governed by three events, (i) crystallization, (ii) crystals transport to the pipe wall and (iii)
crystals deposition on the wall (Dotto, 2003). The crystallization can be divided into three steps: Nucleation, growth and
agglomeration. During the nucleation occurs the crystallized material formation capable of sustaining the crystals growth
phase. On growth stage, the Van der Waals enables attraction between crystallites that grow in mass, which allows the
crystals growth. In the agglomeration step the growing crystals begin to join, getting bigger, giving rise to the buffer
formation. (Turner, 1971).
Several deposition models are proposed in the literature trying to understand the paraffin transport and
deposition mechanisms. The most studied mechanisms are molecular diffusion, Brownian motion, shear dispersion and
gravity settling. Azevedo and Teixeira (2003) did a critical review of the paraffin deposition mechanisms and observed
that the understanding of the mechanisms that govern the paraffination process still generates much discussion and
controversy in the oil industry.
Knowing that the paraffin deposition in pipelines derives from the temperature gradient between the pipe wall
and the circulating oil inside it, this work had the objective of shows that is possible to measure in-situ this gradient,
using a multipoint sensor based on resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), as a way in order to determine the moment
at which paraffin deposition begins, thus enabling the development of prevention strategies.

______________________________
1
Doctoral degree student, Mining Engineer – PPGM/UFBA
2
Doctor, Assistant Professor – Cetec/UFRB
3
Doctor, Professor – PPGM/UFBA
4
Doctoral degree student, Assistant Professor – Cetec/UFRB
5
Doctor, Associated Professor – Polytechnic/UFBA
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The tests of this detector were performed in the closed paraffin loop developed by the Optical Properties
Laboratory - LaPO of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), composed of a closed circulation circuit, that allows
temperature controlling (ex: decreassing) on a zone of the loop designed for sample pipes production.

2. Materials

2.1. Multipoint Temperature Sensor (SMpT)

The temperature sensors were assembled on a fiberglass printed circuit board, forming a multipoint
measurement arrangement. Six independent RTDs, type PT-100, spaced of 5 mm were used. The printed circuit board
has been specially designed to accommodate the PT-100s inside the pipe for this application.
The choice for this type of support lies in two main characteristics: (i) The mechanical stiffness of fiberglass-
epoxy matrix gives adequate resistance and ensures mechanical non-deformation of the setup and (ii) the low thermal
conductivity of this material determines the thermostatic independence of the measurement points.
The SMpT was immersed in the fluid to be characterized, thus thermoresistors sensitive area was kept in direct
contact with the fluid circulating inside the flow-loop, allowing the measurement of the radial temperature gradient. The
way that SMpT was positioned within the pipe is shown in Figure 1. In this figure the thermoresistors are highlighted by
a red circle, PT1 was positioned close to the pipe wall, whereas the PT6 was positioned in the pipe center.

Figure 1. Schematic of the SMpT inserted in the pipe.

2.2. Temperature Acquisition System

The SMpT signals are read by Modbus modules with configurable universal analog inputs, model DigiRail-2A,
manufactured by Novus®. The measuring setup was designed for six PT-100 sensors, so three modules were required,
since each module has two inputs.
The interface between the output signals of the Modbus module and the data acquisition computer, used for
monitoring and controlling the paraffin flow-loop, was made by an USB-i485 adapter, manufactured by Novus®, as well.
By connecting the USB-i485 to the computer USB port, this adapter is automatically detected and installed as a native
COM port, compatible with serial communication. Figure 2 shows the temperature acquisition system.

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Figure 2. Temperature acquisition system.

The temperature profile monitoring program was developed on the Microsoft Visual Basic platform. It
communicates with Modbus modules for temperature data acquisition by the USB port. The graphical human-machine
interface allows data acquisition timing configuration and the every single sensor calibration, allowing the setting of the
calibration factor by hand. At each measurement the acquired points are represented in a temperature plot as a function
of time. This graphic allows the real-time monitoring of the paraffin deposition flow loop temperature gradient as well as
the monitoring of the waxing sample thermal evolution.
The software tool developed also allows the measured values to be saved with a csv extension text file for
further analysis in a data processing tool. The dead time between acquisitions was 30 seconds.

2.3. Test Bench for Paraffin Deposition

A flow loop was the experimental apparatus chosen as test bench for the developed temperature multipoint
sensor; it simulates field conditions and admits the SMpT insertion into the pipeline for in loco testing. This test bench
was designed, developed and assembled through a partnership between Petrobras and Federal University of Bahia for
paraffin deposition research and development sake. The paraffin loop (Figure 3) was installed at the Experimental
Nucleus of Taquipe (NuEx-Taquipe) in São Sebastião do Passé - Bahia.
The flow loop consists of two pipes, 27/8 inches in diameter, 9 m long mounted in closed circuit for oil
circulation. The petroleum is stored in a 200 L tank heated by a belt drum heater, a temperature sensor (TT) check the
temperature of the storage tank. The fluid is forced to flow into the loop by a centrifugal pump (BL). A thermal trough
containing water as coupling fluid was used as heat exchange device for cooling the pipe sample section, as shown in
Figure 4. The coupling fluid inside the trough is cooled by a water cooling circuit composed of a 1000 L tank (TAG),
two condensing units (UC1 and UC2) and a circulation pump (BAG). The pipe section just after the thermal trough has
an electrical resistance for oil reheat, avoiding paraffin deposition outside the pipe sample section. At this very point a
temperature sensor (TL) measures the temperature near the heating resistance inside the flow loop.

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Figure 3. NuEx-Taquipe paraffin flow loop.

Figure 4. Flow loop diagram used to carry out the tests and the location of the elements.

3. Test Methodology
The tests were divided in two. Initially, water has been used as circulating fluid and in the second test petroleum
was circulated.

3.1. First Test

The testing procedure started by turned on the loop and tank electrical resistances; afterwards water was
circulated in the flow loop. The activation of UC's 1 and 2 was done to cool the water contained in the TAG tank the
cooling water setpoint was 6°C.
The heat exchange trough was kept empty, which determined the non-circulation of the TAG water trough the
heat exchanger flow coils. As the oil test would later be done, cooling the trough at this test stage could cause paraffin
deposition in the pipe sample placed inside the thermal trough, at the wrong time.
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3.2. Second Test

The second test stage was started at 1:00 PM with the transfer of 200 L of oil to the tank heated by a belt drum
heater at 45°C. The thermal trough was filled with water, but cooling water was not still circulating through the copper
coils inside the trough.
The oil was put in circulation through the loop when the oil storage tank temperature reached its set point. At
this moment the loop resistance was turned on. At 3:25 PM the BAG pump was switched on, and the cooling water
flowed through the exchange heat trough, decreasing the sample pipe temperature.
The system was shut down at 5:40 PM, when the multipoint sensor detected the initial phase of the oil flow
interruption by the flow loop blockage. The trough was drained and the pipe sample was dismounted for paraffin
deposition visual confirmation.

4. Results and Discussion of the Tests performed on the SMtp Paraffin Loop

4.1. First Test

The first test was performed circulating water as validation of the SMpT as a sensor capable of measuring
temperature gradients.
The circulating water was heated by the storage tank belt drum resistance and kept hot by the loop resistance;
the cooling trough was empty. After 25 minutes the electrical resistances were switched off. Figure 5 shows that
temperature first increases due to the fact that the water inside the storage tank was hot (45°C), the decay observed after
the resistances have been switched off and the temperature gradient profile can be seen at two different times, before and
after the electric power was cut off at the heating resistances.

Figure 5. Temperature curves graph measured by SMpT.

The blue circle shows the temperature gradient created by hot water circulating in the loop; both tank and loop
resistances were on. It is worth remembering that PT1 was located near the pipe wall and PT6, in the center of the pipe.
From the graphic it can be seen that the temperature at the pipe center was higher than the temperature at the pipe wall.
The red circle also shows other temperature gradient as consequence of cooling water circulation. On the graphic one
can see that the temperature in the center of the tube was lower than the temperature in the pipe wall at that moment; due
to the power cut on the resistances. Therefore, a temperature gradient profile inversion was observed, the first part of the
curve shows a heating behavior, on the other hand, its second portion exhibits a cooling trend.

4.2. Second test

In the second test petroleum was used to achieve paraffin deposition inside the sample pipe. The Bahia
Operations Unit of Petrobras (UO-Ba) kindly provided to LaPO 200 L of Reconcavo Basin oil, API gravity 38,9 which

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correspond to light crude oil, paraffinic, pour point at 39°C and cloud point at 51,3°C. The oil characterization was done
by Petrobras Research Center - Cenpes at Rio de Janeiro.
After the oil was transferred to the storage tank, it was heated for approximately one hour until completely fluid,
only at this moment it was put to circulate inside the flow loop. Figure 6 shows the graphics of temperature and time for
the storage tank (TT) and near the loop resistance (TL). The observed temperature increasing at the beginning of TT
graphic is related to the hot oil (a) just in circulation at this moment, soon afterwards, an overshoot (d) is observed
regarding the activation of the BL pump (c). At that very moment the loop resistance was off, but the loop was sun
exposed, this kept TL graphic stabilized at approximately 35°C (b). In conjunction with BL pump the loop resistance was
switched on (c), until the overshoot occurred (d).
Soon after the overshoot, the resistances were switched off and fluid temperature start reducing and the paraffin
began to deposit. To accelerate the paraffin deposition process the BAG pump was switched on (e).
The temperature variations observed after the overshoot are due to the fact that resistances were switched off,
so oil started exchange heat with the thermal trough, getting cooler so paraffin deposit can take place where the SMpT
was inserted. Observing the storage tank return trap it was visually perceived that the fluid flow had reduced, so the
resistances were switched on (f). After the pipe blocking; caused by paraffin; the resitences were turned off and the test
finished.

d
c e

Figure 6. Temperature plot of TT and TL: (a) Hot oil, (b) loop was sun exposed, (c) BL pump and loop resistance
switched on, (d) oveshoot and resistances switched off, (e) BAG pump switched on and (f) fluid flow reduced and
resistances switched on.

At the beginning of the tests the BAG pump was off, at that moment the oil was being heated in thestorage
tank. At the moment the BAG pump was switched on, cold water circulated in the trough cooling coils, the temperature
of the coupling water inside the trough began to reduce and thus remained until the whole system was turned off (once
test was finished). The coupling water temperature reduction inside the thermal trough assisted the petroleum paraffin
deposition process.
Figure 7 shows an overview of the temperature measurement using the developed SMpT. The graphig has been
divided in two parts, Figures 8 and 9, for better visualization and understanding.

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Figure 7. SMpT temperature curves.

Once the BL pump was switched on the flow-loop experienced a temperature overshoot, noticed by the SMpT
(g) as well, see Figure 8. To avoid over heating the oil flowing inside the flow loop, both resistances (tank and loop)
were switched off, this way a reduction in the fluid temperature was perceived (h). When the BAG pump was on (i) the
temperature gradient between the wall and the center of the pipe could be clearly perceived. It is remarkable the
temperature gradient between PT1 and PT6, PT1 was colder than PT2, colder than PT3 and so on. The temperature
gradient between the PTs remained from the moment the pump was switched on until paraffin deposition began (Figure
9).

h
i

Figure 8. Temperature curves of the SMpT in the paraffin loop.

After approximately one hour of testing, oil temperature was decreasing, once the tank and loop resistances
were off and the cold water continued cooling the coupling water inside the trough, oil flow reduction was visualy
perceptible through the oil return trap at the end of the flow loop (j), Figure 9. After a while both resistances were
switched back on and soon SMpT stopped showing a constant and consistent gradient. The temperature monitoring lines

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began to overlap, with no clear correlation pattern (k). From this moment on the sample pipe has been totaly blocked and
the oil stopped flowing, the oil paraffin deposition system and its subsystems were shut down.
Singh et al. (1999) stated that by precipitate, the deposit can form networks of wax crystals (porosity) and
entrap the oil. Singh et al. (2001) also affirmed that the paraffin deposit aging is not uniform, which can causes radial
variation in its composition and morphology. Their statements supports the explanation of the observed ordered
behavior, devoid of correlation between radial position and temperature variation shown in Figure 9.
In this graphic becames evident that the PT2 temperature, the second sensor closest to the pipe wall, which
should measure lower temperature than the pipe center PT-100, regular gradient, was at higher temperature than PT5
and PT6, nearest sensor to the pipe center, indicating that a pocket of liquid hot oil was most likely formed around the
PT2, keeping its temperature high, on the other hand PT5 and PT6 were thermally insulated by the surrounding paraffin
unable to measure actual temperature.

k
j

Figure 9. Temperature curves of the SMtp at the paraffin blocking moment.

After the system shut down, the pipe sample section was disassembled for visual confirmation of the paraffin
deposition. Figure 10 shows the pipe practically obstructed by paraffin, note that the deposition did not occur evenly.

Figure 10. Sample pipe practically obstructed by paraffin.

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5. Conclusions
This work had as starting point the paraffin deposition in oil production pipes and oil transport pipeline having
as genesis the temperature gradient between the pipe wall and the crude oil that circulates. It was evidenced and
demonstrated by the experimental data took in a paraffin deposition facility (flow loop) that it is possible to measure the
in-situ temperature gradient using a temperature multipoint sensor (SMpT), based on resistive thermo-element, RTD
type. It was possible using multi sensing technique to determine the moment at which paraffin deposition begins, thus
enabling the development of strategies to prevent the pipeline blockage by paraffin.
The SMtp designed, developed and builded works as expected during field testing, integrated to a data
acquisition system. Using this measurement system it was possible to obtain the temperature monitoring curves as a
function of time during the fluid circulation tests, in these tests different temperature profiles were imposed to the heat
exchange trough of the paraffin loop. From these experimental curves it is possible follow the temperature gradient and
its evolution, being very clear the instant when petroleum paraffin deposition occurs.

6. Acknowledgements
We thank Petrobras for granting the space where we conducted field tests and Capes and FAPESB for financial
support.

7. References

AZEVEDO, L. F. A.; TEIXEIRA, A. M. A Critical Review of the Modeling of Wax Deposition Mechanisms. Petroleum
Science and Technology, v. 21, n. 3–4, p. 393–408, 2003.
DOTTO, M. E. R. Estudo dos estágios iniciais de formação de depósitos de parafinas em oleodutos. [s.l.] Relatório
de pós-doutorado, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, COPPE, Rio de Janeiro, 2003.
HUANG, Z.; ZHENG, S.; FOGLER, H. S. Wax Deposition: Experimental Characterizations, Theoretical
Modeling, and Field Practices. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2015.
NOVUS PRODUTOS ELETRÔNICOS LTDA. Conceitos Básicos de RS485 e RS422.Porto Alegre, 2016.
SINGH, P. et al. Morphological evolution of thick wax deposits during aging. AIChE Journal, v. 47, n. 1, p. 6–18,
2001.
SINGH, P.; FOGLER, H. S.; NAGARAJAN, N. Prediction of the wax content of the incipient wax-oil gel in a pipeline:
An application of the controlled-stress rheometer. Journal of Rheology, v. 43, n. 6, p. 1437, 1999.
TURNER, W. R. Normal Alkanes. Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Develop., v. 10, n. 3, p. 238–260, 1971.