Investigation of the reasons for decreased efficiency of depressant additives during the pumping of paraffinic oils

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to find out the reasons for the decrease in the effectiveness of the depressor additive DPN-1 as oil flows through the pipeline. The objects of the research are a mixture of paraffinic oils entering the Usa – Ukhta oil pipeline, either treated or untreated with DPN-1, as well as its mixture with highly-refined oil pumped from the Chikshino crude oil delivery and acceptance point. To achieve this goal, the rheological properties of oil were monitored at the main US oil pumping station, Chikshino and Ukhta-1 oil pumping stations; laboratory studies on the rheological properties attributed to simulated mixtures, compiled taking into account the volumes of oil delivered by various oil producers; and monitoring of the rheological properties of point samples of oils as they flow through the pipeline. The serial experiments resulted in establishing that the key factor in reduced efficiency of the DPN-1 additive used in the paraffinic oil mixture is the high pour point oil pumped from the Chikshino crude oil delivery and acceptance point (the share of which is 10 % of the total pumping volume).