Application of induction heaters for pumping high-wax oil from the Kyrtaelskoye field

Abstract

Abstract The article discusses modern views on the problem of pipeline waxing when transporting highly paraffinic oil from the Kyrtaelskoye field in the Komi Republic via the Kyrtael - Chikshino oil pipeline and possible ways to improve the rheological properties of the pumped oil. The paper presents the results of measuring the rheological characteristics of samples from one batch of oil as it flows through the pipeline, as well as the results of modeling the operation of the pipeline in the NIPAL 3.0 program for various pumping options. It has been established that, taking into account the complex rheological properties of oil pumped through the interfield oil pipeline PPSN “Kyrtael” - PSP “Chikshino”, the operation of the oil pipeline is possible at pumping volumes of at least 2300 tons / day due to an increase in the critical operating pressure in the oil pipeline. At the moment, a Flexoil depressant is injected into the oil stream to improve the rheological parameters. In connection with a gradual decrease in the volume of oil pumping, the speed of oil movement decreases and the temperature of the pumped oil decreases below the pour point. Even with the use of a pour point depressant, the pipeline will not be able to operate at the beginning of 2024 (according to the existing operation scheme). The analysis of the problem of pumping oil through an interfield oil pipeline performed in this work shows the need to achieve optimal parameters for pumping oil during the operation of the pipeline under consideration in order to ensure the safety of oil transportation from the Kyrtaelskoye field and further pumping into the system of Transneft-Sever JSC into the Usa-Ukhta main oil pipeline. The paper considers standard methods of oil heating with the help of line heaters, as well as the method of oil heating on the linear part of the interfield oil pipeline using induction flow heaters, which were first proposed when pumping oil through the oil pipeline PPSN “Kyrtael” - PPSP “Chikshino”.