Development of a Method for Estimating Thermal Conductivity of Organic Deposits on the Wax Flow Loop Laboratory Installation

During the oil production, the occurrence of such a complication as the formation of wax deposits is not uncommon. The fight against these deposits, as well as the development of modern methods of dealing with them, is one of the most important tasks of the subsoil user. Many modern methods of modeling deposits require the exact determination of such a quantity as the thermal conductivity of organic deposits. Based on the analysis of scientific literature, it can be concluded that there is no method developed for estimating this value under conditions of wax formation without affecting their pore structure. The paper describes a method for determining this value based on the results of a study of the process of formation of organic deposits on the laboratory installation Wax Flow Loop based on the laws of heat and mass transfer. Based on the results of applying this technique, it becomes possible to determine the thermal conductivity of organic deposits, the value of which correlates with the values given in the reference and scientific literature. In addition, the presence of a correlation between the value of the thermal conductivity of deposits and the component composition of the studied fluid was determined. The application of the described technique will make it possible to most accurately simulate the processes of oil production and determine the technological effectiveness of the use of modern methods of combating organic deposits.