THE PIPELINE FLOW CHARACTERISTIC AND THE GEL STRENGTH OF WAXY CRUDES, IN PARTICULAR NORTH AFRICAN CRUDES, ARE IMPROVED BY CENTRIFUGING UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITION TO REMOVE AN OPTIMUM AMOUNT OF WAX. IN A MODIFICATION OF THE PROCESS, LESS THAN THE OPTIMUM OF WAX IS REMOVED AND A DEWAXING AID IS ADDED TO THE CRUDE PRIOR TO CENTRIFUGING OR TO THE DEWAXED CRUDE. THE REMOVED WAX CAN BE VISBROKEN OR THEMALLY CRACKED, AND THE RESULTING FLUID CAN BE ADDED TO THE DEWAXED OIL.