ABSTRACT

Drag reducing agents (DRA) are used to reduce significantly the frictional pressure loss under turbulent flow conditions, allowing a substantial increase in pipeline production capacity. This paper reports on an original experimental methodology based on the combined use of a classical rheometer, a laboratory loop and an industrial pilot loop offering a large range of experimental conditions in terms of geometrical configuration, temperature and flow rates. Different commercial oil soluble DRA have been tested on various fluids including a waxy crude oil. Then this experimental study focused on the mutual effects of wax deposit and drag reducer agents. It was observed that DRA efficiency is not affected by waxy deposits and that DRA do not prevent nor promote wax deposit formation.

Keywords:
test section, scale flow loop, production monitoring, wax inhibition, hydrate remediation, efficiency, rheometer, asphaltene remediation, wax remediation, paraffin remediation
Subjects:
Drilling Operations, Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Production Chemistry, Metallurgy and Biology, Production logging, Inhibition and remediation of hydrates, scale, paraffin / wax and asphaltene
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2009. BHR Group 2009 Multiphase Production Technology 14
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