Key Technology Qualification for Increasing Subsea Well Production via Drag Reducing Agents

Abstract

Drag reducing agents (DRAs) are a cost-effective method to reduce pipeline pressure losses and maximize flowrates of onshore and offshore pipelines with over 40 years of proven results. With recent developments, production can also be significantly increased by injecting DRA into flow restricted subsea flowlines. This paper will provide a summary of the development and testing of a full-scale prototype subsea DRA storage and injection unit built to achieve the industry goal of alleviating flow restricted subsea pipelines. While DRA applications are proven in thousands of offshore and onshore applications, it has never been successfully injected subsea. System integration testing (SIT) is currently under way on the prototype unit, after which it will be qualified for offshore use. The technology is covered by numerous patents issued and pending in the US and other countries.