Drag Reducing Agents in Sealed Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drag reducing agents for hydrocarbon fluids face challenges in convenient and economical manufacturing, storage, transportation, and application, with issues of agglomeration and inconsistent performance due to the need for dispersing fluids, which increase shipping costs and have limited shelf life across temperature ranges.
Innovation Solution
A drag reducing composition is developed with a sealed temporary container containing polyolefin particles and a dispersing fluid, using materials like polyethylene and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, allowing for reduced dispersing fluid usage and stable storage and transport, with the option of multi-layered containers and coatings to enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ground DRA particulates are dispersed in a dispersing fluid to form slurries for easy pumping and injection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the shipping costs increase due to transportation of dispersing fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the dispersing fluid from the shipping formulation, transporting only the dry ground DRA particulates. The dispersing fluid is added only at the injection site, eliminating the cost and logistical burden of transporting large volumes of dispersing fluid while maintaining the ability to pump and inject the DRA effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the DRA particulates from the dispersing fluid, transporting them as distinct entities. The DRA is ground to appropriate particle sizes and shipped dry, then combined with dispersing fluid at the application site, allowing independent optimization of transportation and application characteristics.
2Quantity of substance
If ground DRA particulates are transported without dispersing fluid, then the shipping costs are reduced, but the stability and ease of pumping deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The DRA particulates are ground to the appropriate particle size distribution before shipping, preparing them in advance for optimal performance. This preliminary size reduction ensures that when the dispersing fluid is added at the injection site, the particles are already sized for easy pumping and effective drag reduction, eliminating the need for on-site grinding equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dispersing fluid as an intermediary at the injection site that facilitates the transition from dry stored particulates to a pumpable slurry. This intermediary enables the system to maintain low shipping costs while achieving the necessary operational characteristics at the point of use.
3Reliability
If DRAs are manufactured with high polyalpha-olefin concentrations for improved drag reduction performance, then the effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing and storage complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the particle size parameters of the ground DRA particulates, creating a specific size distribution that enhances drag reduction performance. By controlling particle size rather than relying on concentration alone, the system achieves improved effectiveness while maintaining simple manufacturing and storage procedures for dry particulates.
4Reliability
If DRAs are designed for long shelf life across wide temperature ranges, then the reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent accepts that the dispersing fluid may have limited shelf life or temperature sensitivity, but since it is added only at the injection site and not transported long distances or stored for extended periods, its shorter effective lifetime is acceptable. This allows use of simpler, less expensive dispersing fluids that would be unsuitable for long-term storage and transportation.
Data Source
AI summary
A drag reducing composition comprises a sealed temporary container; and a drag reducing agent and up to 20 weight percent of a dispersing fluid disposed in the sealed temporary container. The drag reducing agent comprises polyolefin particles having a particle size of about 10 to about 2,000 microns; and the dispersing fluid comprising water, an alcohol, a hydrocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.