STUDY OF BLEND OF PLANT SEED OILS AS POUR POINT DEPRESSANT IN NIGERIAN WAXY CRUDE OIL

Abstract: Finding solution to the problem of paraffin wax deposition in crude oil production facilities is of the major concerns in the oil industry. Chemical treatment had been most convenient and economical method for tackling this problem. This paper considered the study of blend of plant seed oils as pour point depressant in Nigerian waxy crude oil. Two waxy crude oil samples obtained from Niger Delta region of Nigeria were characterized to determine their pour point, American Petroleum Institute gravity (APIg), wax content and viscosity using standard methods. The impacts of the blend of Jatropha seed oil and castor seed oil on the pour points of the crude oil samples were determined using a portable Pour Point Tester PPT 45150 by PSL Systemtechnik. The results obtained showed that blend of castor seed oil with 40% Jatropha seed oil gave the highest depression of about 10 O C on the pout points of the crude oil samples at concentration of 0.1%v/v of additive with crude oil. Also, using copper strip test, the blend of the seed oils was found not to have corrosive effect on crude oil facilities. The appropriate blend of castor and Jatropha seed oils can be used as a pour point depressant in crude oil facilities.