THE EFFECT OF VISCOSITY ON DRAG REDUCER PERFORMANCE IN OIL PIPELINES

Polymeric drag reducer "CDR" was evaluated in laboratory tests with oils of 3 to 48 cp viscosity, and in crude and product pipelines at oil viscosities of 3, 5, and 9 cp. The laboratory data show CDR to be an effective drag reducer in all the oils tested regardless of viscosity. Pipeline tests show that in the region of full turbulence the performance of CDR is independent of viscosity. Drag-reduction is classified into three regions: (1) extension of laminar flow, with drag reduction increasing with flow velocity; (2) a region of transition, with first a decrease and then an increase in drag reduction as velocity increases, and (3) a region of maximum constant drag reduction. In region (1) significant drag reductions up to 50% were obtained. There is a critical polymer concentration above which transition from regions (1) to (3) occurs without inflection points, and below which region (1) is extended by increasing oil viscosity.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Held in Los Angeles, Calif., Nov. 4-5, 1971.
• Corporate Authors:

  AIME-Society of Petr Engr Ann Calif Reg Mtg (42nd)

  6200 North Central Expressway
  Dallas, TX  United States  75206
• Authors:
  • Lescarboura, J A
  • Wahl, H H
• Publication Date: 1971-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 8 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Additives; Drag; Pipe flow; Polymers
• Old TRIS Terms: Drag reduction; Pipeline flow theory; Polymer additives
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00056262
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Petroleum Institute
• Report/Paper Numbers: SPE #3691 Preprint
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM