Performance Evaluation And Optimization Of Crude Oil Drag Reduction Agent

Drag reduction agent(DRA) can be used in pipelines transporting crude oil or products in order to reduce the frictional drag and dramatically increase the pipeline transmission capacity. It can also increase the safety factor, reduce power consumption and facilities investment, which is beneficial to oil and gas development. In order to achieve the target of economical and high-efficiency operation for pipeline, the property of DRA should be evaluated and optimited, besides the optimal concentration should also be made sure. As a result, it is necessary to anlyze the component of DRA, evaluate the performance and get the optimum operation conditions.The flow velocities, Re were calculated according to the operational parameters of local pipeline. The sizes of the cuicuit loop in lab were got after calculating the parameters. The loop is made of stainless steel. The indoor facilities for evaluating performance of DRA was designed and built according to documents, industrial standards and local parameters of pipeline.The property and component of 2 DRA were analyzed through chemical analysis method. The volatility and corrosivity of 2 DRA are not serious and the safety for transportation and using is high. The main component for 2 DRA is ɑ-olefin polymer and the drag reduction effect of high-molecular polymer is better. The components of 2 DRA are tow toxic and do not harm to people. The flash point of No.1 DRA is 43℃ which is dangerous when temperature is high in summer. The heat-resistance temperature of 2 DRA is 400 ℃. When combination used with pour point depressant, the DRA have no effect on the performance of pour point depressant.The effects of Re, conctration of DRA and shearing to performance of DRA were analyzed with the indoor facilities for evaluating performance of DRA. The No.1 DRA is more sensitve to change of Re than No.2 and is more easily affected by Re. The drag reduction rate increased with the increasing concentration at different flow velocities, but not linearly increased with concentration. When passed through the pump, the DRA is shorn and the drag reduction rate decreased with the times of passing through the pump.The No.2 DRA is better in drag reduction and flow increase effect than No.1 DRA. The No.1 DRA is more easily affected by shearing effect, and the drag reduction rate is sensitive to the change of shearing. The shear resistance of No.2 DRA is a little better than No.1 DRA. Solubility in crude oil of No.1 DRA is better than that of No.2 DRA, which means the agent molecule easily dissolve in crude oil.From the point of drag reduction effect and economic benefit, the proposal optimum injected concentration of DRA at different flow velocities is given according to the experimental data.