Науковий вісник НГУ

Development and evaluation of combined methods for cleaning paraffin wax deposits in pipelines oil and gas industry

• 
• 

User Rating:  / 3

PoorBest 

Details

Parent Category: 2026

Category: Content №1 2026

Created on 27 February 2026

Last Updated on 27 February 2026

Published on 30 November -0001

Written by V. O. Rastsvietaiev, J. Haddad, O. O. Aziukovskyi, O. A. Pashchenko, M. V. Babenko, D. O. Vasylchenko

Hits: 2078

Authors:

V. O. Rastsvietaiev*, orcid.org/0000-0003-3120-4623, Dnipro University of Technology, Dnipro, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

J. Haddad, orcid.org/0000-0003-3787-0010, Al-Balqa Applied University, Amman, Jordan, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

O. O. Aziukovskyi, orcid.org/0000-0003-1901-4333, Dnipro University of Technology, Dnipro, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

O. A. Pashchenko, orcid.org/0000-0003-3296-996X, Dnipro University of Technology, Dnipro, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

M. V. Babenko, orcid.org/0000-0003-2309-0291, Dnipro University of Technology, Dnipro, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

D. O. Vasylchenko, orcid.org/0009-0005-1304-1826, Kupianskyi Industrial Site, Eastern Linear Production Department of Main Gas Pipelines, Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

* Corresponding author e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

повний текст / full article

Naukovyi Visnyk Natsionalnoho Hirnychoho Universytetu. 2026, (1): 050 - 057

https://doi.org/10.33271/nvngu/2026-1/050

Abstract:

Purpose. To develop and assess the efficacy of combined mechanical, chemical, and thermal methods for removing paraffin wax deposits from extended pipelines with circular cross-sections and drilling systems, addressing operational challenges in the oil and gas industry.

Methodology. A multidisciplinary approach was employed, integrating laboratory experiments, numerical modeling, and field trial validation. Laboratory tests used steel pipeline models and production tubing to simulate paraffin deposition under varying temperature (20–60 °C) and pressure (10–50 MPa) conditions. Deposit composition was analyzed via gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, while cleaning methods – mechanical pigging, chemical solvents, and thermal heating – were evaluated for removal efficiency. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using ANSYS Fluent modeled deposition and cleaning dynamics, focusing on flow velocity, turbulence, and pipeline geometry. Field trials, where feasible, validated laboratory results on operational pipelines and drilling rigs.

Findings. Combined methods achieved up to 90 % removal efficiency, with hybrid approaches (chemical solvents and mechanical pigging) outperforming single methods in high-paraffin oils and drilling tubing. Deposit thickness (2–5 mm) correlated with temperature gradients, with critical deposition zones identified in pipeline bends and drilling inlets. Mechanical methods were cost-effective (50–100 USD/m) but less efficient in smaller-diameter tubing, while thermal methods were energy-intensive (20–50 MJ/m). Recommendations include hybrid cleaning protocols and IoT-based monitoring for proactive maintenance.

Originality. This study introduces a novel framework integrating mechanical, chemical, and thermal methods tailored to circular pipelines and drilling systems, with CFD models quantifying deposition dynamics. New insights into the interplay of pipeline geometry and drilling conditions enhance cleaning optimization.

Practical value. The proposed methods reduce downtime by 20 % and maintenance costs by 15–25 %, with IoT integration enabling predictive maintenance. These solutions are applicable to diverse oil compositions and drilling environments, improving operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: paraffin deposits, pipeline cleaning, drilling systems, chemical solvents, IoT monitoring

References.

1. Shetty, R., Tyagi, M., & Sharma, J. (2024). Study of Sand Transport in a Horizontal Pipeline Using Validated Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Experimental Fiber-Optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing Data. SPE Journal, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.2118/223953-pa

2. Bondarenko, V., Salieiev, I., Kovalevska, I., Chervatiuk, V., Malashkevych, D., Shyshov, M., & Chernyak, V. (2023). A new concept for complex mining of mineral raw material resources from DTEK coal mines based on sustainable development and ESG ­strategy. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 17(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.33271/mining17.01.001

3. Tran, T. V., Hoang, H. M., Tran, N. H., Giang, T. H., & Pham, K. N. (2015). The Production Data Management Platform for Reservoir Management and Optimisation: A case study. All Days. https://doi.org/10.2118/176282-ms

4. Vynnykov, Yu., Kharchenko, M., Manhura, S., Aniskin, A., & Manhura, A. (2023). Degradation of the internal well equipment steel under continuous service in the corrosive and aggressive environments. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 17(1), 84-92. https://doi.org/10.33271/mining17.01.084

5. Gulieva, N. K., Mustafaev, I. I., Sabzaliev, A. A., & Garibov, R. G. (2018). Composition and properties of deposits formed on the internal surface of oil pipelines. Journal of Applied Spectroscopy, 85(1), 103-108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10812-018-0619-3

6. Sudakov, A., Dreus, A., Ratov, B., Sudakova, O., Khomenko, O., Dziuba, S., …, & Ayazbay, M. (2020). Substantiation of thermomechanical technology parameters of absorbing levels isolation of the boreholes. News of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Series of Geology and Technical Sciences, 2(440), 63-71. https://doi.org/10.32014/2020.2518-170X.32

7. Yu, H. (2019). Study on ecological impacts and countermeasures of long-distance oil and gas pipeline project construction. AIP Confe­rence Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5089067

8. Yin, H., Liu, C., Wu, W., Song, K., Dan, Y., & Cheng, G. (2021). An integrated framework for criticality evaluation of oil & gas pipelines based on fuzzy logic inference and machine learning. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 96, 104264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2021.104264

9. Nguyen, L. Q., Le, T. T. T., Nguyen, T. G., & Tran, D. T. (2023). Prediction of underground mining-induced subsidence: Artificial neural network based approach. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 17(4), 45-52. https://doi.org/10.33271/mining17.04.045

10.      Vynnykov, Y., Kharchenko, M., Manhura, S., Aniskin, A., & Manhura, A. (2024). Neural network analysis of safe life of the oil and gas industrial structures. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 18(1), 37-44. https://doi.org/10.33271/mining18.01.037

11.      Pashchenko, O. A., Borodina, N. A., Yavorska, O. O., ­Ishkov, V. V., & Cherniaiev, O. V. (2024). Application of polymer flooding to increase oil recovery. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1415(1), 012054. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1415/1/012054

12.      Semenenko, Ye., Medvedieva, O., Medianyk, V., Bluyss, B., & Khaminich, O. (2023). Research into the pressureless flow in hydrotechnical systems at mining enterprises. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 17(1), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.33271/mining17.01.028

13.      Muratova, S., Pashchenko, O., Khomenko, V., & Zhailiev, A. (2025). Application of machine learning for wellbore stability assessment. Engineering for Rural Development, 24. https://doi.org/10.22616/erdev.2025.24.tf109

14.      Pashchenko, O., Kamyshatskyi, O., Omirzakova, E., & Ratova, S. (2025). Development and optimization of hard alloy compositions for rock destruction. Engineering for Rural Development (Vol. 24). 24 ^th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development. https://doi.org/10.22616/erdev.2025.24.tf110

15.      Biletskyi, V., Oliinyk, T., Pysmennyi, S., Skliar, L., Fedorenko, S., & Chukharev, S. (2024). Experimental studies of the joint process “hydrotransport – oil agglomeration of coal”. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 18(4), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.33271/mining18.04.071

16.      Gan, M. (2023). Corrosion control (III): corrosion inhibitors. Engineering materials, (pp. 111-130). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2392-2_7

17.      Banerjee, S., Kumar, S., Mandal, A., & Naiya, T. K. (2017). Design of novel chemical solvent for treatment of waxy crude. International Journal of Oil Gas and Coal Technology, 15(4), 363. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijogct.2017.084831

18.      Ratov, B., Borash, A., Biletskiy, M., Khomenko, V., Koroviaka, Y., Gusmanova, A., …, & Matуash, O. (2023). Identifying the operating features of a device for creating implosion impact on the water bearing formation. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 5(1(125)), 35-44. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2023.287447

19.      Pan, S., Xu, N., Li, Z., Niu, P., Guo, Y., & Liang, Y. (2024). Oil-Gas multiphase flow surrogate model embedded with mechanism formulas. Volume 3: Operations, Monitoring, and Maintenance; Materials and Joining. https://doi.org/10.1115/ipc2024-133744

20.      Dasari, A., Goshika, B. K., Majumder, S. K., & Mandal, T. K. (2015). Viscous oil-water flow through an inclined pipeline: experimentation and prediction of flow patterns. Multiphase Science and Technology, 27(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1615/multscientechn.v27.i1.10

21.      Iqbal, H., Tesfamariam, S., Haider, H., & Sadiq, R. (2016). Inspection and maintenance of oil & gas pipelines: a review of policies. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 13(6), 794-815. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2016.1187632

22.      Li, S., & Wang, S. (2019). Virtual Isomorphism Oil Pipeline Transportation Energy Efficiency Management Platform. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 242, 022050. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/242/2/022050

23.      Ratov, B., Pavlychenko, A., Kirin, R., Pashchenko, O., Khomenko, V., Tileuberdi, N., …, & Muratova, S. (2025). Using Machine learning to model mechanical processes in mining: theory, practice, and legal considerations. Engineered Science. https://doi.org/10.30919/es1419

24.      Zaichenko, S., & Bielokha, H. (2024). Methods and means of cleaning main gas and oil pipelines. Studies in systems, decision and control, (pp. 267-285). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68372-5_14

25.      Li, H., & Ruan, Y. (2021). Establishment of simulation model of water injection pipeline cleaning technology and evaluation of cleaning effect. 2021 3 ^rd International Conference on Intelligent Control, Measurement and Signal Processing and Intelligent Oil Field (ICMSP), 450-453. https://doi.org/10.1109/icmsp53480.2021.9513418

26.      Kirin, R., Yevstihnieiev, A., Vyprytskyi, A., & Sieriebriak, S. (2023). Legal aspects of mining in Ukraine: European integration vector. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 17(2), 44-52. https://doi.org/10.33271/mining17.02.044

27.      Muratova, S., Ratov, B., Khomenko, V., Pashchenko, O., & Kamyshatskyi, O. (2025). Improvement of the methodology for measuring plastic viscosity and dynamic shear stress of drilling fluids. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1491(1), 012026. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1491/1/012026

28.      Gao, S. (2024). Research and Application of Online Electromagnetic Heating System with Internal Penetration in Oil Pipeline at Well Site. Journal of Physics Conference Series, 2834(1), 012114. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2834/1/012114

29.      Bolonnyi, V., Maksymovych, O., Sudakov, A., & Grudz, V. (2025). Ecological and energy safety of transportation of carbon and low-carbon energy carriers. VI International Conference “Essays of Mining Science and Practice” (RMGET 2024), IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1491(2025), 012056. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1491/1/012056

30.      Ratov, B. T., Fedorov, B. V., Syzdykov, A. Kh., Zakenov, S. T., & Sudakov, A. K. (2021). The main directions of modernization of rock-destroying tools for drilling solid mineral resources. 21 ^st International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2021. Section Exploration & Mining, 503-514. https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2021/l.l/s03.062

• < Prev
• Next >