DRAG REDUCING ADDITIVES (DRA’s) AND FLOW IMPROVERS
Weschem Production Technologies Ltd. manufactures drag reducing agents used in the oil and water pipeline industries. Weschem Production Technologies Ltd.’s range of advanced and unique chemistries can improve flow rates, reduce pressure and/or reduce the power necessary to move fluids through pipelines.
SERVICE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Under certain operating conditions, flow improvers can reduce internal pipe turbulence thus allowing improved flow. in the client’s oilfield operations to help determine the most effective and economical product. Based on this test and field simulation, we will recommend a specific product.
DRAG REDUCING ADDITIVES (DRA’s) AND FLOW IMPROVERS - GENERAL DISCUSSION
Weschem Drag Reducing Additives (DRA’s) can improve the flow in pipelines by reducing turbulence. Weschem’s DRA’s can dramatically increase flow, or reduce pressure loss or sustain a given flow rate using less pump energy.
In most oil pipelines, flow is either turbulent. Or in the transition zone. This turbulence and frictional resistance, consumes most of the energy applied to move the fluids. Weschem DRAs are long chain polymers that reduce friction near the pipeline wall and within the turbulent core, dampening the turbulence and decreasing energy loss thereby allowing the pipeline operator to either increase the volume with a given pump size, or reduce the pump pressure in the pipeline, or allow reduction in booster pumps.
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Weschem Drag Reducing Agents (DRA) offer flow improvement effectiveness at low concentrations by changing the flow when it is in the transitional or turbulent state, back to a laminar flow! This reduces energy and pressure loss in the pipe.
The most common use of Weschem DRA is to increase pipeline flow rates in a system that is at capacity. In order to deliver more fluids in the system, the DRA is injected into the oil to increase the overall pipeline capacity. DRA usage is very cost effective versus capital intensive mechanical expansion. The DRA dosage is typically in parts per million and the cost is minimal per incremental barrel of oil produced and there is no need to spend significant capital investment in either pumps, pipelines or costly infrastructure.
In many cases, due to age, Pipeline Operators want to decrease the pipeline pressure in order to extend the life of an aging or partially corroded pipeline. By using Weschem DRA’s, the same flow volumes can be maintained at lower pressures
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Weschem Drag Reducing Agents (DRA) offer Energy Savings at low concentrations
Drag Reducing Agents can be used to reduce the pump horsepower necessary to move a given fluid volume through a pipe. This may allow a pumping station to be bypassed either permanently or temporarily for service or repair.
*WESCHEM DRA’S PROVIDE A LOW COST ALTERNATIVE TO EITHER:
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REDUCE PUMP PRESSURE REQUIREMENTS or
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REDUCE PIPELINE PRESSURES WHILE MAINTAINING EXISTING VOLUMES or
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INCREASE FLUID VOLUMES WITH EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
* WESCHEM DRA’S ARE COMPATIBLE WITH MOST EXISTING CHEMICAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS
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WESCHEM DRA’S ARE NON HAZARDOUS FOR TDG PURPOSES
CONTACT US at sales@weschemtech.com to discuss your specific application