Pipeline Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Optimization

Challenge

Pipeline operators add drag reducing agent (DRA) to their lines to ensure product fluid properties are maintained as it is shipped down the line. This chemical is expensive, and operating costs can be reduced if chemical injection is optimized. Using spreadsheets for optimizing this process is timely and ineffective.

Solution

Seeq’s advanced analytics are implemented to accurately monitor pipeline segment hydraulic performance continuously and identify bottlenecks. The application then reliably identifies optimization opportunities of the DRA additive to maximize where it is needed most and minimize where it is not needed.

The tool also allows the user to input a flow rate operating range to be able to anticipate DRA needs based on forecasted rates.

Results

Operators are able to ensure product quality at the end of the pipeline is on spec, which is critical for continued operation, while optimizing DRA allocation to pipeline segments that need it most. This greatly reduces overall yearly spend on the DRA chemical, saving oil and gas pipeline operators major operating costs that are actually unnecessary.

Data Sources

• Process data from historians such as OSIsoft PI.

Data Cleansing

• Removing periods from the signals that are not in the selected flow rate range

Calculations and Conditions:

• Value Search, Formula, Histogram, Scorecard

Reporting and Collaboration

• Organizer topic summarizes the results for each segment in each pipeline, complete with statistics in scorecards