Methanol and crude oil transportation in a pipeline - as alternate slugs of methanol-oil emulsion and methanol, opt. contg. powdered coal

摘要

In a process for transport of methanol and crude oil through a pipeline, slugs of methanol alternate with slugs of an emulsion of small concns. (less than 10%) of methanol in crude oil. Coal may also be transported, by adding it, finely ground, to the slugs of methanol. Process is used esp. for paraffinic crudes, of viscosity 10-250 mPas at transport temp., and for prodn. ratios oil:methanol of 85:15 to 40:60. The method of transporting coal is useful in regions where other transport systems are difficult to develop, e.g. the arctic. The viscosity of the oil phase is reduced, e.g. by 10-25% by 2.2-3.5 vol.% methanol, so that less pumping energy is needed or flow rates can be increased.