The effect of micro/nano-particles on pressure drop in Oil pipeline: Simulation

Document Type : Reasearch Paper

Authors

• Ali Ghamartale
• Rahmatollah Saboori
• Samad Sabbaghi

Department of Nano Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Advanced Technologies, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

10.7508/ijnd.2016.03.005

Abstract

A high pressure drop happens when heavy oil with high viscosity moves through the oil pipeline. A variety of methods to avoid this pressure drop is available. One of which is injection of chemicals to reduce the viscosity and ultimately reduce pressure drop. Using the pipesim software, the effect of dispersion of nano and micro-particles into the oil has been simulated to study the amount of the pressure drop pipe lines. The effects of the parameters such as the type and concentration of particles, temperature, oil rate, inside diameter of pipe and the flow type were examined. Simulating the experimental data by the software, gives promising experimental results. The results show that the copper micro-particles with 0.1 wt% concentration have the lowest pressure drop per unit length. At low temperatures the effect of concentration of micro particle is important and at high temperatures effects of temperature is dominant. It is noteworthy that in higher rates, the presence of any amount of particles has a favorable impact on the pressure drop. For laminar and turbulent flow, pressure drop will decrease when the oil viscosity decreases. On the contrary for transient flow, pressure drop will increase when the viscosity reduces.

Keywords

• Micro/Nano-particles
• oil
• Pipeline
• Pressure drop
• Pipesim
• Viscosity

20.1001.1.20088868.2016.7.3.5.9

Main Subjects

• Nano Engineering
• Nanomaterial
• Nano/Micro Modeling
• Nanotechnology

---

References

[1] Green D. W., Willhite G. P., (1998), Enhanced oil recovery, Henry L. Doherty Memorial Fund of AIME, Society of Petrol. Eng. Richardson texas. 233 Pages.

[2] Energy Information Administration, (2003), International Energy Annual, Product: DOE/EIA-0219.

[3] Energy Information Administration, (2006), System for the Analysis of Global Energy Markets. Appendix 1 of the International Energy Outlook. Report: DOE/EIA-0484.

[4] The many technological and economic challenges of extra-heavy oil- See more at: http://www.total.com

[5] Hu Cz, Heavy oil exploration technology. Bejing: Petroleum Industry Publishing Inc. 1998.

[6] Lu L. H., Li M. H., Su Y. L., (2005), The overview of the heavy oil exploration. Neimenggu Chem. Indus. 3: 110-112.

[7]  Torsater O., Engeset B., Hendraningrat L., Suwarno S., (2012), Improved oil recovery by nanofluids flooding: An experimental study. SPE Kuwait International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition, 10-12 December, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

[8] Kazemzadeh Y., Malayeri M. R., Riazi M., Parsaei R., (2015), Impact of Fe3O4 nanoparticle on asphaltene precipitation during CO2 injection. J. Natural Gas Sci. Eng. 22: 227-234.

[9] Onyekonwu M. O., Ogolo N. A., (2010), Investigating the use of nanoparticles in enhancing oil recovery. Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, 31 July - 7 August, Tinapa - Calabar, Nigeria.

[10] Karimi A., Fakhroueian Z., Bahramian A., Pour Khiabani N., Babaee Darabad J., Azin R., Arya S., (2012), Wettability Alteration in Carbonates using Zirconium Oxide Nanofluids: EOR Implications. Energy Fuels. 26: 1028–1036.

[11] Ettefaghi E., Ahmadi H., Rashidi A., Mohtasebi S., Alaei M., (2013), Experimental evaluation of engine oil properties containing copper oxide nanoparticles as a nanoadditive. Int. J. Indus. Chem. 4: 28-32.

[12] Eistein A., (1905), On the motion required by the molecular kinetic theory of heat of small particle suspended in a stationary liquid. Annalen Der Physic. 17: 549-560.

[13] Omole O., Olieh M. N., Osinowo T., (1999), Thermal visbreaking of heavy oil from Nigerian tar sand. Fuel. 78: 1489-1496.

[14] Hyne J. B., (1986), Aquathermolysis. Synopsis report No. 50. AOSTRA Contracts No. 11, 103, 103 B/C.

[15] Alboudwarej H., Pole D., Svrcek W. Y., Yarranton H. W., (2005), Adsorption of asphaltenes on metals. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 44: 5585-5592.

[16] Hamedi Shokrlu Y., Babadagli T., (2011), Transportation and interaction of nano and micro sized metal particles injected to improve thermal recovery of heavy oil. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 30 October-2 November, Denver, Colorado, USA.

[17] Hamedi Shokrlu Y., Babadagli T., (2010), Effect of nano sized metals on viscosity reduction of heavy oil/bitumen during thermal applications, Canadian Unconventional Resources and International Petroleum Conference, 19-21 October, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

[18] Ogolo N. A., Olafuyi  O. A., Onyekonwu M. O., (2012), Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Nanoparticles. SPE Saudi Arabia Section Technical Symposium and Exhibition. 8-11 April, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

[19] Skauge T., Spildo K., Skauge  A., (2010), Nano sized particles for EOR. SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium. 24-28 April, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

[20] Qiu  F., (2010), The potential appications in heavy oil EOR with the nano particle and surfactant stabilized solvent-based emulsion. Canadian Unconventional Resources and International Petroleum Conference, 19-21 October, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

[21] Chen Y., Wang Y., Lu J., Wu C., (2009), The viscosity reduction of nano-keggin-K3PMo12O40 in catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil. Fuel. 88: 1426-1434.

[22] Afzal S., Ehsani M. R., Nikookar M., Khodabandeh-Shahraki A. R., Roayaei E., Mohammadi A. H., (2015), Reduction of heavy oil viscosity using nanoparticles in enhanced oil recovery process, In book: Enhanced oil recovery: Methods, economic benefits and impacts on the environment., publisher: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., NY, USA, Editors: Alicia Knight.

[23] Li W., Zhu J., Qi J., (2007), Application of nano-nickel catalyst in the viscosity reduction of Liaohe-heavy oil by aquathermolysis. J. Fuel Chem. Technol. 35: 176-180.

[24] Jain S., Goossens J. G. P., Peters G. W. M., Duin M. V., Lemstra P. J., (2008), Strong decrease in viscosity of nano particle-filled polymer melts through selective adsorption. Soft Matter. 4: 1848-1854.

[25] Esmaeili A., (2012), Simulation of a sub-sea gas pipeline in persian gulf to estimate the physical parameters. Procedia Engine. 42: 1634-1650.

[26] Schlumberger A., (2009), Pipesim user manual, Well Design, Drilling and petroleum.

[27] Bjørnseth F., (2013), Heavy oil production technology challenges and the effect of nano sized metals on the viscosity of heavy oil: A literature review and an experimental study. Norwegian University of Science and Technology.