Pipeline Lubrication of Heavy Oil:Experimental Investigation of Flow and Restart Problems

摘要

Heavy oil represents a large quantity of hydrocarbon resources.Unfortunately its high viscosity makes it difficult to produce and to transport.Different solutions have been developed to transport heavy oil in pipeline like blending the crude oil by a light hydrocarbon.In this study we investigate a technique based on two-phase flow:pipeline lubrication.A thin water film is injected around the internal oil core and lead to the core-annular flow regime.Water lubricates the heavy oil and longitudinal pressure gradient is then largely reduced.