Wax　deposit　strength　is　a　determinant　parameter　for　scheduling　crude　oil　pipeline　pigging　program.　However,　previous　oil-wax　gel　strength　models　only　take　into　account　wax　precipitation　amount　(WPA)　and　ignore　other　influential　parameters,　like　wax　crystal　structure.　In　addition,　wax　deposit　strength　measurement　remains　difficult　because　its　structure　would　be　damaged　when　using　conventional　rotational　rheometer.　In　response,　this　paper　develops　an　oil-wax　gel　strength　model　with　wax　crystal　precipitation　and　structural　characteristics　incorporated,　and　proposes　an　indirect　approach　to　measure　the　yield　stress　of　real　wax　deposit.　The　impacts　of　WPA,　wax　crystal　roundness,　boundary　fractal　dimension,　area　fraction　and　aspect　ratio　are　investigated.　Grey　relational　analysis　method　shows　that　WPA,　wax　crystal　boundary　fractal　dimension　and　area　fraction　are　highly　relevant　factors.　It　is　also　revealed　that　a　typical　pigging　process　on　real　wax　deposit　can　be　divided　into　four　stages,　and　wax　breaking　force　is　the　wax　removal　force　in　the　second　phase.　Moreover,　it　is　found　that　high　oil　temperature　increases　WPA,　wax　crystal　boundary　fractal　dimension　and　area　fraction,　and　decreases　wax　layer　thickness,　accordingly,　wax　breaking　force　increases.　For　model　validation,　an　indirect　approach　involving　wax　deposition　and　pipeline　pigging　is　proposed.　It　overcomes　the　uncertainty　of　rotational　rheometer　in　real　wax　deposit　yield　stress　measurement.　The　average　and　maximum　relative　errors　between　predicted　and　inversely　calculated　yield　stresses　are　15.89%　and　37.32%　respectively,　which　proves　the　feasibility　of　this　model　to　real　wax　deposit.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.