Flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive intervention
Most of the unconventional fossil fuel reserves consist of heavy crude oil. Crude oil is transported through pipelines, land, and cargo tankers. It loses its ability to flow below its pour point. Therefore, crude oil needs to be heated above its pour point, or it requires some mechanism to reduce vi...
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Petroleum Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096249524000656 |
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| author | Rakesh Kumar Ratnakar Sivakumar Pandian Hepzibah Mary Himanshu Choksi |
| author_facet | Rakesh Kumar Ratnakar Sivakumar Pandian Hepzibah Mary Himanshu Choksi |
| author_sort | Rakesh Kumar Ratnakar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Most of the unconventional fossil fuel reserves consist of heavy crude oil. Crude oil is transported through pipelines, land, and cargo tankers. It loses its ability to flow below its pour point. Therefore, crude oil needs to be heated above its pour point, or it requires some mechanism to reduce viscosity and improve the flow in pipeline transportation. The flow assurance methods depend on the types and attributes of crude oil. Saturates, aromatic, resin and asphaltenes are the main constituents, and their composition and proportion define crude oil's properties. Higher molecular weight components, such as waxes, resins, and asphaltenes cause high viscosity in crude oil. Chemical additives are the commonly used method to reduce viscosity. However, recent advancements in non-chemical treatment methods for heavy and waxy crude oil provide an opportunity for flow assurance in pipeline transportation. These methods include dilution and emulsification, annular and core flow, thermal and electrical heating, ultrasonic and microwave treatment, solar heating, electromagnetic field conditions, thermochemical heat treatment, and plasma heating. However, these techniques have certain advantages and disadvantages depending on the characteristics of the crude, the applicability of technology, and economic considerations. A combination of two or more techniques for viscosity reduction is more suitable for flow assurance in pipeline transportation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2eca8ec3154f4d37a02c0900a9dc4df5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2096-2495 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Petroleum Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-2eca8ec3154f4d37a02c0900a9dc4df52025-08-20T02:40:29ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Petroleum Research2096-24952025-03-0110120421510.1016/j.ptlrs.2024.07.005Flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive interventionRakesh Kumar Ratnakar0Sivakumar Pandian1Hepzibah Mary2Himanshu Choksi3Department of Petroleum Engineering, School of Energy Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, 382426, IndiaDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, School of Energy Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, 382426, IndiaSchool of Energy Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, 382426, IndiaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, School of Energy Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, 382426, India; Corresponding author.Most of the unconventional fossil fuel reserves consist of heavy crude oil. Crude oil is transported through pipelines, land, and cargo tankers. It loses its ability to flow below its pour point. Therefore, crude oil needs to be heated above its pour point, or it requires some mechanism to reduce viscosity and improve the flow in pipeline transportation. The flow assurance methods depend on the types and attributes of crude oil. Saturates, aromatic, resin and asphaltenes are the main constituents, and their composition and proportion define crude oil's properties. Higher molecular weight components, such as waxes, resins, and asphaltenes cause high viscosity in crude oil. Chemical additives are the commonly used method to reduce viscosity. However, recent advancements in non-chemical treatment methods for heavy and waxy crude oil provide an opportunity for flow assurance in pipeline transportation. These methods include dilution and emulsification, annular and core flow, thermal and electrical heating, ultrasonic and microwave treatment, solar heating, electromagnetic field conditions, thermochemical heat treatment, and plasma heating. However, these techniques have certain advantages and disadvantages depending on the characteristics of the crude, the applicability of technology, and economic considerations. A combination of two or more techniques for viscosity reduction is more suitable for flow assurance in pipeline transportation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096249524000656Viscosity reductionHeavy crude oilPour point reductionThermal crackingFlow improver |
| spellingShingle | Rakesh Kumar Ratnakar Sivakumar Pandian Hepzibah Mary Himanshu Choksi Flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive intervention Petroleum Research Viscosity reduction Heavy crude oil Pour point reduction Thermal cracking Flow improver |
| title | Flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive intervention |
| title_full | Flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive intervention |
| title_fullStr | Flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive intervention |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive intervention |
| title_short | Flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive intervention |
| title_sort | flow assurance methods for transporting heavy and waxy crude oils via pipelines without chemical additive intervention |
| topic | Viscosity reduction Heavy crude oil Pour point reduction Thermal cracking Flow improver |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096249524000656 |
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