Experimental Investigation of Drag Reduction by a Polymeric Additive in Crude Oil Flow in Horizontal Pipe

Farhan Lafta Rashid; Haider Nadhom Azziz; Shaheed Mahdi Talib

Authors

Farhan Lafta Rashid Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Kerbala, Iraq
Haider Nadhom Azziz Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Kerbala, Iraq
Shaheed Mahdi Talib General Directorate of Education in Kerbala, Iraq

Keywords:

Drag reduction, polymeric additive, rheological characterization, pumping power

Abstract

Companies of oil transportation are undergoinga need to rise their efficiencies and capabilities of transport. The frictional pressure dragsor drops, taking charge of energy losses in oil pipelines, may be reduced by adding long-chain polymers of drag reduction agent (flow improvers). In this work, a Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) has been employed to reduce the drag of Iraqi crude oil using Poly Acrylic Acid (PAA) at different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 ppm). The test rig used in present work consists of a crude oil reservoir of dimensions (0.75 x 0.75 x 0.75 m) and a pump (flow rate =30 L/min., maximum head=30 m, maximum power =0.74 hp). This pump is used to circulate the treated crude oil from the reservoir through the pipe. Results show that using DRA reduces the crude oil viscosity, using a DRA concentration of 250 ppm decreases the pressure drop by 28.8 % for pipeline capacity, pipe diameter and length of 0.0081 m3/s, 0.0508 m and 5 m, respectively. In addition, a maximum drag reduction of 16 % has been achieved at the highest concentration (250 ppm). Therefore, the DRA addition saves the pumping power and increases the produced flow by 28.48 % and 4.05 %, respectively.