Abstract
Transportation of crude oil and refined petroleum is the main function of pipeline system in petroleum industry. Unfortunately, wax precipitation has become a serious problem for the petroleum industry where it causes pipeline blockage and eventually results in operational catastrophe. Up-to-date, the technique used to mitigate wax deposition by injecting chemical wax inhibiting agent remains a debate amongst researchers. This review addresses the evolution of chemical wax inhibitor generations started from polymer-based in the early 1980s, followed by biosurfactant-based in the late 1990s and finally plant-based or agricultural-based in recent years. Pivoting to environmental impact, petroleum industry is amidst finding a green wax inhibiting agent to solve wax deposition problem that occurs during the transportation of crude oil whilst facilitating the remediation process of contaminated groundwater.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this article.
References
Abdulla R, Chan ES, Ravindra P (2011) Biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas: a critical review. Crit Rev Biotechnol 31:53–64. https://doi.org/10.3109/07388551.2010.487185
Adeyanju OA, Oyekunle LO (2013) Experimental study of wax deposition in a single phase sub-cooled oil pipelines. Soc Pet Eng - 37th Niger Annu Int Conf Exhib NAICE 2013 - To Grow Africa’s Oil Gas Prod Required Policy, Funding. Technol, Tech Capab 1:164–181
Agarwal M, Singh K, Chaurasia SP (2010) Prediction of biodiesel properties from fatty acid composition using linear regression and ANN techniques. Indian Chem Eng 52:347–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/00194506.2010.616325
Aguiar JIS, Pontifes AA, Nerris A et al (2020) Impact of solvent treatments for asphaltenes on wax deposition and an efficient alternative with green surfactants. Proc Annu Offshore Technol Conf 2020-May. https://doi.org/10.4043/30695-ms
Akinyemi OP, Udonne JD, Efeovbokhan VE, Ayoola AA (2016) A study on the use of plant seed oils, triethanolamine and xylene as flow improvers of Nigerian waxy crude oil. J Appl Res Technol 14:195–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jart.2016.04.006
Akinyemi OP, Udonne JD, Oyedeko KF (2018) Study of effects of blend of plant seed oils on wax deposition tendencies of Nigerian waxy crude oil. J Pet Sci Eng 161:551–558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2017.12.017
Tordal A (2006) Pigging of pipelines with high wax content by Alf Tordal, Statoil ASA, Stavanger. Norway PPSA Aberdeen Semin:1–6
Atabani AE, Silitonga AS, Badruddin IA, Mahlia TMI, Masjuki HH, Mekhilef S (2012) A comprehensive review on biodiesel as an alternative energy resource and its characteristics. Renew Sust Energ Rev 16:2070–2093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.01.003
Azevedo LFA, Teixeira AM (2003) A critical review of the modeling of wax deposition mechanisms. Pet Sci Technol 21:393–408. https://doi.org/10.1081/LFT-120018528
Banerjee S, Kumar R, Mandal A, Naiya TK (2015) Use of a novel natural surfactant for improving flowability of Indian heavy crude oil. Pet Sci Technol 33:819–826. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2015.1014961
Chen G, Bai Y, Zhang J, Yuan W, Song H, Jeje A (2016) Synthesis of new flow improvers from canola oil and application to waxy crude oil. Pet Sci Technol 34:1285–1290. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2016.1198804
Chen W, Mingcai M, Ling C, Dexin W (1999) Enhance oil production in high waxy oil reservoir by single well cyclic microbial injection-production. SPE Asia Pacific Improv Oil Recover Conf APIORC:2–4. https://doi.org/10.2523/57303-ms
Chhetri AB, Watts KC (2012) Viscosities of canola, jatropha and soapnut biodiesel at elevated temperatures and pressures. Fuel 102:789–794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2012.04.032
Deka B, Sharma R, Mahto V (2020) Synthesis and performance evaluation of poly (fatty esters-co-succinic anhydride) as pour point depressants for waxy crude oils. J Pet Sci Eng 191:107153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2020.107153
El-Sheshtawy HS, Khidr TT (2016) Some biosurfactants used as pour point depressant for waxy Egyptian crude oil. Pet Sci Technol 34:1475–1482. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2016.1204317
Emil A, Yaakob Z, Kumar MNS et al (2010) Comparative evaluation of physicochemical properties of jatropha seed oil from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. JAOCS, J Am Oil Chem Soc 87:689–695. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-009-1537-6
Fadairo A, Ogunkunle T, Asuquo V, Oladepo A, Lawal B (2018) Dataset on investigating the effect of sunflower based biodiesel on the rheology of Nigeria waxy crude oil. Data Br 20:948–953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.08.106
Falta RW, Bulsara N, Henderson JK, Mayer RA (2005)Leaded-gasoline additives still contaminate groundwater. Environ Sci Technol 39:378A–384A. https://doi.org/10.1021/es053352k
Franzetti A, Caredda P, Ruggeri C, Colla PL, Tamburini E, Papacchini M, Bestetti G (2009) Potential applications of surface active compounds by Gordonia sp. strain BS29 in soil remediation technologies. Chemosphere 75:801–807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.12.052
Ghojavand H, Vahabzadeh F, Shahraki AK (2012) Enhanced oil recovery from low permeability dolomite cores using biosurfactant produced by a Bacillus mojavensis (PTCC 1696) isolated from Masjed-I Soleyman field. J Pet Sci Eng 81:24–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2011.12.002
Gu X, Zhang F, Li Y, Zhang J, Chen S, Qu C, Chen G (2018) Investigation of cationic surfactants as clean flow improvers for crude oil and a mechanism study. J Pet Sci Eng 164:87–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.01.045
Gudala M, Banerjee S, Naiya TK, Mandal A, Subbaiah T, Rama Mohan Rao T (2019) Hydrodynamics and energy analysis of heavy crude oil transportation through horizontal pipelines using novel surfactant. J Pet Sci Eng 178:140–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.03.027
Hafiz AA, Khidr TT (2007)Hexa-triethanolamine oleate esters as pour point depressant for waxy crude oils. J Pet Sci Eng 56:296–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2006.10.003
Hamzah NHC, Khairuddin N, Siddique BM, Hassan MA (2020) Potential of Jatropha curcas L. as biodiesel feedstock in Malaysia: a concise review. Processes 8:1–11. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8070786
Kang PS, Lee DG, Lim JS (2014) Status of wax mitigation technologies in offshore oil production. Proc Int Offshore Polar Eng Conf 3:31–38
Karlapudi AP, Venkateswarulu TC, Tammineedi J, Kanumuri L, Ravuru BK, Dirisala V, Kodali VP (2018) Role of biosurfactants in bioremediation of oil pollution-a review. Petroleum 4:241–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petlm.2018.03.007
Kumar R, Banerjee S, Mandal A, Kumar Naiya T (2017) Flow improvement of heavy crude oil through pipelines using surfactant extracted from soapnuts. J Pet Sci Eng 152:353–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2017.02.010
Lee HS (2008) Computational and rheological study of wax deposition and gelation in subsea pipelines (Ph.D. thesis). University of Michigan. Michigan. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/58425
Lesage S, Xu H, Novakowski KS (1997) Distinguishing natural hydrocarbons from anthropogenic contamination in groundwater. Groundwater 35:149–160
Lim ZH, Al Salim HS, Ridzuan N et al (2018) Effect of surfactants and their blend with silica nanoparticles on wax deposition in a Malaysian crude oil. Pet Sci 15:577–590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-018-0241-2
Liu H, Wang H, Chen X, Liu N, Bao S (2014)Biosurfactant-producing strains in enhancing solubilization and biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in groundwater. Environ Monit Assess 186:4581–4589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3721-x
Liu J, Jia Y, Xu R (2012) Microbial prevention of wax deposition in crude oil. Adv Mater Res 550–553:1364–1368. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.550-553.1364
Luo C, Wang W, Zhang H, Yu X, Wang G (2019) Microbial treatment of waxy crude oil for mitigating wax precipitation and improving liquidity. Pet Sci Technol 37:471–478. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2018.1552968
Maghrabi IA, Chaalal O, Islam MR (1998) Thermophilic bacteria in UAE environment can enhance biodegradation and mitigate wellbore problems. Soc Pet Eng - Abu Dhabi Int Pet Exhib Conf 1998. ADIPEC 1998:778–788. https://doi.org/10.2523/49545-ms
Marchant R, Banat IM (2012) Microbial biosurfactants: challenges and opportunities for future exploitation. Trends Biotechnol 30:558–565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.07.003
Mbadinga SM, Wang LY, Zhou L, Liu JF, Gu JD, Mu BZ (2011) Microbial communities involved in anaerobic degradation of alkanes. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 65:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2010.11.009
Mofijur M, Masjuki HH, Kalam MA, Hazrat MA, Liaquat AM, Shahabuddin M, Varman M (2012) Prospects of biodiesel from jatropha in Malaysia. Renew Sust Energ Rev 16:5007–5020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.05.010
Patel J, Borgohain S, Kumar M, Rangarajan V, Somasundaran P, Sen R (2015) Recent developments in microbial enhanced oil recovery. Renew Sust Energ Rev 52:1539–1558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.07.135
Patel MR, Chitte PS, Bharambe DP (2017) Oleic acid based polymeric flow improvers for Langhnaj (North Gujarat, India) crude oil. Egypt J Pet 26:895–903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2015.04.006
Peng S, Tang X Bin, Wang H, et al (2018) Preparation of poly-Hydrazide and use as pour point depressor for heavy oil. Mater Sci Forum 943 MSF:135–140. 10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.943.135
Pereira JFB, Gudiña EJ, Costa R, Vitorino R, Teixeira JA, Coutinho JAP, Rodrigues LR (2013) Optimization and characterization of biosurfactant production by Bacillus subtilis isolates towards microbial enhanced oil recovery applications. Fuel 111:259–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.04.040
Ragunathan T, Husin H, Wood CD (2020) Effects of crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil upon wax inhibition. ACS Omega 5:19342–19349. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c00753
Ragunathan T, Zaqwan J, Wood CD, Husin H (2021) The rheological behavior of crude oil in the presence of palm oil additives. J Pet Explor Prod Technol 11:2833–2843. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-021-01193-3
Reza A, Nazar S, Salehi N, et al (2018) Assessing the biological inhibitors effect on crude oil wax appearance temperature reduction. 8:70–85. https://doi.org/10.22078/jpst.2017.2442.1418
Ridzuan N, Adam F, Yaacob Z (2015) Effects of shear rate and inhibitors on wax deposition of Malaysian crude oil. Orient J Chem 31:1999–2004. https://doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2012.1417
Salihu A, Abdulkadir I, Almustapha MN (2009) An investigation for potential development on biosurfactants. Biotechnol Mol Biol Rev 3:111–117. https://doi.org/10.5897/BMBR2009.0001
Silva EJ, Rocha e Silva NMP, Rufino RD et al (2014) Characterization of a biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas cepacia CCT6659 in the presence of industrial wastes and its application in the biodegradation of hydrophobic compounds in soil. Colloids Surf B: Biointerfaces 117:36–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2014.02.012
Singh A, Lee HS, Singh P, Sarica C (2011) Flow assurance: validation of wax deposition models using field data from a subsea pipeline. https://doi.org/10.4043/21641-ms
Singh SP, Singh D (2010) Biodiesel production through the use of different sources and characterization of oils and their esters as the substitute of diesel: a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 14:200–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.07.017
Sobrinho HBS, Luna JM, Rufino RD et al (2014) Biosurfactants: classification, properties and environmental applications. Biotechnology 11:1–29. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280841136
Soni HP, Kiranbala, Agrawal KS et al (2010) Designing maleic anhydride-α-olifin copolymeric combs as wax crystal growth nucleators. Fuel Process Technol 91:997–1004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2010.02.019
Sousa AL, Matos HA, Guerreiro LP (2019) Preventing and removing wax deposition inside vertical wells: a review. J Pet Explor Prod Technol 9:2091–2107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-019-0609-x
Souza EC, Vessoni-Penna TC, De Souza Oliveira RP (2014)Biosurfactant-enhanced hydrocarbon bioremediation: an overview. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 89:88–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.01.007
Wang L, Tang Y, Wang S, Liu RL, Liu MZ, Zhang Y, Liang FL, Feng L (2006) Isolation and characterization of a novel thermophilic Bacillus strain degrading long-chain n-alkanes. Extremophiles 10:347–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-006-0505-4
Wang R, Hanna MA, Zhou WW, Bhadury PS, Chen Q, Song BA, Yang S (2011) Production and selected fuel properties of biodiesel from promising non-edible oils: Euphorbia lathyris L., Sapium sebiferum L. and Jatropha curcas L. Bioresour Technol 102:1194–1199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.09.066
Wang W, Cui J, Wu S et al (2019) Isolation and optimization of compound bacteria for wax content and particle size. J Pet Sci Technol 9:53–62. https://doi.org/10.22078/jpst.2019.3499.1563
Wang Z, Li K, Fingas M, Sigouin L, Ménard L (2002) Characterization and source identification of hydrocarbons in water samples using multiple analytical techniques. J Chromatogr A 971:173–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(02)01003-8
Wang Z, Yu X, Li J, Wang J, Zhang L (2016) The use of biobased surfactant obtained by enzymatic syntheses forwax deposition inhibition and drag reduction in crude oil pipelines. Catalysts 6:6. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal6050061
Xiao M, Li WH, Lu M, Zhang ZZ, Luo YJ, Qiao W, Sun SS, Zhong WZ, Zhang M (2012) Effect of microbial treatment on the prevention and removal of paraffin deposits on stainless steel surfaces. Bioresour Technol 124:227–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.07.063
Xu J, Zhang X, Sun J, Li L, Guo X (2009) How comb-type poly(maleic acid alkylamide-co-α-olefin) assemble in waxy oils and improve flowing ability. Technology 4:551–556. https://doi.org/10.1002/apj
Yadav IC, Devi NL, Syed JH, Cheng Z, Li J, Zhang G, Jones KC (2015) Current status of persistent organic pesticides residues in air, water, and soil, and their possible effect on neighboring countries: a comprehensive review of India. Sci Total Environ 511:123–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.041
Yang F, Paso K, Norrman J, Li C, Oschmann H, Sjöblom J (2015) Hydrophilic nanoparticles facilitate wax inhibition. Energy Fuel 29:1368–1374. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef502392g
Zhang J, Lai H, Gao H, Hu S, Xue Q (2018) Prevention and mitigation of paraffin deposition by biosurfactant-producing and paraffin-degrading Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain 6-2c. Chem Eng J 335:510–519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.10.014
Zhang Z, Hou Z, Yang C, Ma C, Tao F, Xu P (2011) Degradation of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in petroleum by a newly isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa DQ8. Bioresour Technol 102:4111–4116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.12.064
Funding
This research was supported by UTP Centre of Flow Assurance (CFA) throughout the project.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
The authors contributed to the study of design and conception. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Amni Haslinda Alpandi. Material preparation, search and collection of relevant articles and reviews were performed by Amni Haslinda Alpandi and Hazlina Husin. Akhmal Sidek and Hazlina Husin thoroughly checked the first draft. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable
Consent for publication
Not applicable
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alpandi, A.H., Husin, H. & Sidek, A. A critical review on the development of wax inhibiting agent in facilitating remediation process of contaminated groundwater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 51030–51040 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16791-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16791-1