Research Article Published: February 24, 2026 Volume 2, Issue 1

Localization of Wax Deposition Zones in Oil Flowlines: A Case Study of the SEKE-03S Field, Niger Delta

Authors

S.U. Eke1

Affiliation: Department of Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Production Studies, Centre of Excellence in Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.

T. E. Tufatari2

Affiliation: Department of Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Production Studies, Centre of Excellence in Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Hydrocarbon production in cooling environments often faces significant flow assurance challenges due to wax deposition. This accumulation restricts flow, increases pressure drop, and necessitates costly interventions such as mechanical pigging or chemical solvent injection. To optimize mitigation strategies, precise localization of the deposition zone is required.
This study investigates the wax deposition profile of the SEKE-03S flowline in the Niger Delta to determine the critical point of blockage. Field data regarding the flowline temperature profile were combined with laboratory analysis of crude samples to determine the Wax Appearance Temperature (WAT) using the cold finger method. Analytical modeling indicated a WAT of 20°C. Results reveal that at a wellhead temperature of 25°C, the critical deposition zone is located between 960m and 980m from the wellhead. The study recommends the strategic installation of a Wax Inhibition Tool (WIT) at this specific interval to dissolve precipitates and prevent blockage without requiring production shutdowns.

Keywords

Flow Assurance Wax Appearance Temperature Paraffin Deposition Niger Delta Basin Pipeline Temperature Profile

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How to Cite

APA Style:

Eke, S. U., & Tufatari, T. E. (2025). Localization of wax deposition zones in oil flowlines: A case study of the SEKE-03S field, Niger Delta. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Related Sciences, 2(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17597200

IEEE Style:

S. U. Eke and T. E. Tufatari, "Localization of wax deposition zones in oil flowlines: A case study of the SEKE-03S field, Niger Delta," International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Related Sciences, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1-10, 2025. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17597200

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DOI

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17597200