Comparative assessment of drag reduction efficiencies of polymer solutions and surfactants at low temperatures

Abstract

Abstract The antiturbulent efficiency of solutions of high molecular weight polymers and that of micellar systems of surfactants are compared. The effect of the structural organization of polymer solutions and colloidal systems on their antiturbulent efficiency is shown. Hydrodynamic and physicochemical approaches are used to interpret the experimental results. It is shown that the use of polymers as drag reducing agents in main oil pipelines is more preferable at low liquid temperatures in northern latitudes (the Arctic).