Remediation of Heavy Oil Transportation Problems via Pipelines Using Biodegradable Additives: An Experimental and Artificial Intelligence Approach

Abstract

Summary The present work focuses on the improvement of flow properties during the transportation of heavy oil via 0.0254-, 0.0381-, and 0.0508-m-diameter pipelines. The effect of temperature, water cut, natural extract Madhuca Longifolia (ML), and potato starch (PS) on pressure drop, shear viscosity, and flow behavior index (n) was experimentally investigated. Minimum pressure drop occurred in the 0.0508-m-inner-diameter (ID) pipeline because of the combined consequence of temperature and 2,000 ppm ML during the transportation of 85% heavy oil + 15% water. A new correlation was developed to predict the friction factor for the heavy oil/emulsions during its transportation in a 0.0254-m-ID pipeline using the linear regression method for friction factor. Flow behavior index inclined toward Newtonian from shear-thinning behavior (i.e., n = 0.2181 to 0.9834) after the addition of 2,000 ppm ML at 50°C. From the comparative studies of the bioadditives ML and PS, it was found that ML was more effective in decreasing pressure drop. A new hybrid artificial intelligence (AI) technique was developed and used to optimize flow-influencing parameters to minimize the pressure drop and shear viscosity and improve flow behavior index. Minimum pressure drop (58,659.72 Pa), shear viscosity (1.56 Pa·s), and maximum flow behavior index (0.71) were achieved during the heavy oil flow in the 0.0508-m-ID pipeline after addition of 15% water, 1,320 ppm ML for 12.33-m3/h flow rate at 27°C. ML and PS are substantially efficient enough to decrease the pressure drop and shear viscosity and increase the flow behavior index in pipelines. However, from the studies, it was concluded that ML shows better performance compared with PS. Because both ML and PS are biodegradable and nontoxic, the petroleum industry may use both as a cost-effective alternative to decrease pour point and improve flowability for heavy crude oil.