METHOD FOR REMOVING AND/OR RETARDING PARAFFIN BUILDUP ON SURFACES IN CONTACT WITH CRUDE OIL OR NATURAL GAS CONTAINING SUCH PARAFFIN

摘要

A sulfur trioxide-containing fluid, e.g., sulfur trioxide gas, is contacted with the surfaces of equipment in contact with crude oil or natural gas to retard the deposition of paraffins from the crude oil or natural gas onto the surfaces and/or to react with paraffins already deposited on the surfaces to produce a water-dispersible material which is subsequently removed with an aqueous liquid.