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In order to bring the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration down to safe levels for widespread use, this study plans to use a state-of-the-art electrocoagulation reactor (ECR) to treat real oily wastewater discharged from the Al-Muthanna petroleum refinery. A one-side finned (1SF) cathode tube was positioned between two tubular anodes in the continuous ECR, where the active area of the cathode was much more than its submerged volume. Each of these electrodes was made of aluminum and joined in a monopolar parallel to a DC power supply. On COD elimination efficiency, the impacts of operational parameters such as electrolysis time (4-60 min), current density (0.630-5.000 mA/cm 2 ), and flow rate (50-150 ml/min) were explored. In conclusion, Increasing current density and electrolysis duration increases COD removal efficiency, whereas increasing flow rate reduces it. COD removal efficiencies were 82% at optimal electrolysis times of 60 (min), 5 (mA/cm 2 ) current density, and 50 (ml/min) flow rate, with energy consumption of 4.787 (kWh/kg COD ) and electrode consumption of 0.544 (g). The investigation results demonstrated that the new reactor could treat oily wastewater within the specified operational limits. It might be used before other, more conventional treatments., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)