Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Waxy Crude Oil Multiphase System Depositing and Sticking on Pipeline Inner Walls and the Micro Influence Mechanism of Surface Physical-Chemical Characteristics

For ensuring the safe and stable operation of waxy crude oil pipeline transportation, in this research, the molecular dynamics model was established to characterize the deposition and wall sticking behavior of waxy crude oil multiphase system pipeline transportation. The equal density interpolation fitting method was proposed to determine the wall contact angle of simulation results. Through verification, the error between the simulation results and the experimental results measured by Dos Santos et al. (2006) was less than 5%, which showed that the established model was accurate and reliable. Using the established model, the deposition and wall sticking behavior of waxy crude oil nucleated clusters was simulated. It was found that the nucleated clusters would first adhere to the wall surface to form the solidified oil layer. Then, the wax and asphaltene molecules would diffuse to the deposit layer, and the oil molecules in the solidified oil layer reverse diffused to the direction of the oil flow. With the adhering and spreading degree of clusters on the wall surface increasing, the deposit layer gradually aged, and the gelled deposit layer with a higher density and hardness would form. On this basis, the micro influence mechanism of the surface free energy was studied. It was found that the higher the surface free energy, the more hydrophilic the pipeline wall was, and the higher the adhesion degree would be. Moreover, based on the ABF sampling and the potential of mean force calculations, the selective deposition process of waxy crude oil deposited on the sedimentary layer was studied. The micro information on the deposition sites, the binding conformation, and the binding energy of different molecules in clusters deposited on different molecules in sedimentary layer were analyzed. The investigations in this study could provide theoretical support for paraffin removal and control, which could ensure the safe and stable operation of the waxy crude oil production system.

Automated summary

The research established a molecular dynamics model to characterize the deposition and wall sticking behavior of waxy crude oil pipeline transportation, with the proposed equal density interpolation fitting method for determining wall contact angle. The study verified the model's accuracy and reliability by comparing simulation results to experimental data, and investigated the micro influence mechanism of surface free energy on adhesion behavior and the selective deposition process of waxy crude oil on the sedimentary layer.