An Overview on Most Effective DRAs in Crude Oil Pipelines

Ibrahim, Raheeq I.; Odah, Manal K.; Shafeeq, Dhoha A.

doi:10.30684/etj.37.10a.2

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The pipeline transportation of different fluids with DRA was reviewed in detail. [58][59][60][61] However, its applications for similar transportation of viscous crudes like heavy and extra-heavy oil were not focused on earlier. The up-to-date development on the topic is compiled here by critically reviewing the relevant studies.…”

Section: Dilutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of drag reducers for the pipeline transportation of heavy crude oils: A critical review and future research directions

et al. 2023

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The long‐distance pipeline transportation of heavy crudes demands optimal pumping procedures to abate overhead expenditures in the midstream phase. This can be facilitated by reducing both the oil viscosity and the frictional losses induced by the turbulent flow zone. The dualistic approach of reducing both viscosity and drag requires the optimization of several parameters such as concentrations and types of diluents and additives. This manuscript critically reviews various technologies being undertaken to facilitate the pipeline transportation of heavy crude oils by highlighting the technique of dilution coupled with the addition of drag reducing agents (DRA). DRA such as surfactants, nanoparticles, bio‐additives, polymers, and fibres are blended with the diluted crudes to suppress the proliferation of turbulent eddies which in turn assist in pumping the oil at a higher flow rate under constant pressure conditions. Several investigations have reported that drag reduction is significantly enhanced by varying the molecular structure of the DRA. In addition, an optimum flow rate coupled with a specific surfactant concentration at an ideal temperature can significantly reduce head losses and pumping expenditures. Further research is imperative to study the effect of the polymer structure with respect to the induced shear degradation and dissolution behavior of the crude.

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Section: Dilutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of drag reducers for the pipeline transportation of heavy crude oils: A critical review and future research directions

et al. 2023

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“…Although these pipelines present a safe and efficient way of transporting crude oil, they have shortcomings, such as interactions occurring between asphaltene and paraffin structures, falls in pressure within the pipes, and a high amount of energy required for the pumping of the oil [1][2][3][4]. The main factor of the high energy consumption in crude oil pipelines and other transportation systems has been attributed to drag [5,6] that arises because of high viscosity and friction of the oil against the pipe walls, phenomena that require a high amount of energy to overcome to enable the oil to be efficiently pumped through pipelines [7]. Flow improvement can be achieved by enhancing the fluid-mechanical efficiency of the oil using a material referred to as a flow improver, which significantly reduces the friction of crude oil in oil pipelines, thus reducing pumping energy consumption [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Crude Oil Flow Using Graphene Flakes under an Applied Electric Field

Al-Jadir¹,

Sabri²,

Kadhim³

et al. 2023

Fluid Dynamics &Amp; Materials Processing

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Graphene flakes (GF) have been prepared and assessed as a material for improving flow in oil pipelines under the effect of an electric field. In particular, different amounts of GFs have been considered in order to determine the optimal flow conditions. The GFs were prepared from graphite foam, derived from the dehydration of sugar with a particle size of 500-600 μm, which was dispersed in ethanol and exfoliated in a ball mill under a shear force. After 15 h of exfoliation, sonication, and subsequent high-speed centrifugation at 3000 rpm, irregular-shaped GFs of 50-140 nm were produced and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The prepared graphene sheets have been found to display excellent morphology and good graphitic structure. Experiments on flow improvement were conducted using the central composite rotatable design method for three parameters: stimulation time (15, 30, 45, and 60 s), applied voltage (150, 170, 200, and 220 V), and concentration of the GFs (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/L). The optimal conditions for improved crude oil flow were then determined using the STATISTICA and WinQSB software packages. The results have confirmed the effectiveness of the use of the prepared GFs as a flow improver for crude oil, where the flow improvement is essentially a result of a reduction in viscosity and suppression of friction in the crude oil system.

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