Drag reducing agent is one which reduces the
drag or pressure in the pipelines and prevents turbulence and decreases the
pressure of the extraction.
An oil extraction plant is filled with problems such as drag and
turbulence in the pipeline or the increased viscosity due to deposit formation.
Drag, for instance, is caused due to turbulence
or disturbance in the pipeline. It is believed
by the experts that the oil extracted, puts pressure on the pipe while it travels upwards. The pipe, in turn, exerts reverse pressure on the
fluid, causing the oil to swirl down the line. This faster travel of petroleum can cause
various kinds of disturbances and prevent extraction. Extraction plants start operating under high pressure to
prevent this from happening.
Alternatively, by adding drag reducing
agents, one can prevent this from forming, and extract crude oil or petroleum
at a much lower pressure. A drag reducing agent is a high molecular weight
polymer. What it does is that, it forms a sort of layer of the pipe and the oil. This way, the interaction between them is
reduced, and thus, the drag is reduced.
The polymers are
added as and when necessary, and thus, helps in making sure the oil
extraction takes place safely and also the production remains stable and good.
The oil extraction plants use these polymers
to not only reduce pressure, but also to decrease their production cost. When
one adds the drag reducing agent, the operation becomes simpler, and easier,
with low pressures too. Thus, when the
pressure is low, the operating cost is low, and the safety is increased multifold.
So, using drag
reducing agents comes with some extraordinary benefits for all kinds of oil extraction process.
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