Drag Reduction of Crude Oil Flow in Pipelines Using Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate Surfactant

Abstract

In the present worA a closed loop circulation system consist of three testing sections was designed and constructed. The testing sections made from (3m) of commercial carbon steel pipe of diameters (5.08, 2.54 and 1.91 cm) . Anionic surfactant (SDBS)with concentrations of (50 100, 150, 200 and 250 ppm) was tested as a drag reducing agent The additive(SDDS) studied using crude oilfrom south of Iraq. The flow rates of crude oil were used 08 and 2.54cm ID.pipes are (1 — 12) m3/hr while (1-6) ra were used in 1.91 cm ID. pipe. Percentage drag reduction (%Dr) was found to increase by increasing solution velocity, pipe diameter and additives concentration (La increasing Renolds number).Also it was found that there is no change in apparent physical properties (viscosity) of crude oil after the addition of SDBS, The higher value of drag reduction of 54% in 5 cm ID. was observed using 250 ppm SDBS surfactant dissolved in the used crude oil at flow rate of 12 m Friction factor was calculated from experimental data. The friction factors values for pure solvent lies near or at Blasius asymptote suggestedfor flow of Newtonian fluids. Afier the addition of small amount of SDI3S, the friction factor values were positioned below Blasius asymptote toward Virk maximum drag reduction asymptote, &hich was never reached.