Session: 11-02: Process Heat for Desalination and Industrial Decarbonization

Paper Number: 124025

124025 - Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Fluid Transport Pipelines Through Drag Reduction Agents 

Abstract: 

In light of the United Nations' ambitious net-zero emissions commitments, the imperative to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050 has never been more pressing. Meeting these goals necessitates a substantial reduction in power consumption and a steadfast commitment to energy-efficient practices. Drag Reduction Agents (DRA) has a pivotal role in adapting unforeseen demands and seasonality without significant infrastructure investments. While DRA is widely recognized for its capacity to debottleneck pipelines and increase flow rates, this study ventures by focusing on its potential to optimize the operation of existing pipelines with a primary emphasis on energy reduction. The deployment of drag-reducing agents can result in a decreased reliance on pump arrangements, and in some cases, the complete shutdown of pumping stations. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of DRA implementation and the energy savings it can unlock through the illustration of three distinct scenarios based on site and system configuration, supported by two real-life case studies from Saudi Aramco pipeline network. A comprehensive energy and profit analyses are conducted, considering energy efficiency metrics, head loss, and the percentage of energy consumption savings. The findings reveal that DRAs hold significant potential for enhancing energy efficiency in various industrial applications. It also highlights the multifaceted nature of energy savings, where the outcomes depend on factors such as pump configurations, variable frequency drive utilization, and energy price fluctuations. Nevertheless, the economic viability may fluctuate depending on energy and DRA price dynamics. Site A, featuring two Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) pumps and one fixed-speed pump, exhibited a "Partial Energy Saving" behavior where site's configuration allowed for the realization of 75% of the potential system-level energy savings. In contrast, Site B, exclusively equipped with fixed-speed pumps, displayed a "No Energy Saving" behavior. Despite the system's potential energy saving of 2.7 MW. This study contributes valuable insights into the utilization of DRA as a means to not only maximize pipeline capacity but also significantly reduce energy consumption, aligning with global sustainability objectives while simultaneously optimizing operational costs.

Presenting Author: Ghadah Al-Amer Saudi Aramco

Presenting Author Biography: Ghadah Al-Amer is an Eenergy Optimization Engineer at Saudi Aramco, where she joined in 2019. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Engneering Leadership and Management from Pennsylvania State University. Al-Amer has a diverse career experience in operations engineering, technical support, and energy optimization and management. Her technical speciality is industrial energy optimization with a focus on decarbonization, cogeneration, and steam systems optimization.

Authors:

Mohammed Al-Makhaita Saudi Aramco
Omar Al-Rajeh Saudi Aramco
Ghadah Al-Amer Saudi Aramco
Mohammed Al-Bash Saudi Aramco