The pipeline hydro-transport of agricultural residue biomass could enhance the capacity of bio-based energy facilities for large-scale bio-fuel production. The vertical transport of chopped wheat straw aqueous slurries in upward flows was examined through a 29 m long, 50 mm diameter closed-circuit pipeline facility at laboratory scale. The frictional pressure drops of straw slurries for saturated concentrations of 5–40 % (mass) were measured and analyzed as a function of particle size, slurry solid concentration, and slurry flow rate. The pressure drops of straw slurries were below those of water, and the difference increased with an increase in solid concentrations exhibiting drag-reducing features; however, this effect seemed to be completely dominated by the particle size. For the ranges of flow velocities (0.5–4.0 m s−1) and particle sizes (6.4 mm, 3.2 mm, and<3.2 mm) considered, the 6.4 mm particle size straw slurries demonstrated the highest drag reduction (19.7 %) at a 20 % (mass) concentration and a slurry velocity of 1.5 m s−1. For the smallest particle size straw slurries (<3.2 mm), the drag reduction was almost negligible. The indirect measurements of in situ concentration through the obtained delivered concentrations showed all the straw slurries to be homogenous with the maximum difference of 10 % between delivered and prepared concentrations. The wheat straw aqueous slurries in vertical upward flows displayed different characteristics than those in horizontal flows at similar flow conditions, particularly at low velocities. This research could help design and operate a long-distance integrated pipeline network for large-scale bio-fuel production.