ABSTRACT
Pipelines are used to transport large amounts of crude oil over large distances, representing the most economical alternative. Flow assurance faces two main problems: viscosity increase due to gradual cooling of the oil along the pipeline and fouling deposition. The thermo-hydraulic model of a pipeline segment by Diaz-Bejarano for unheated pipeline sections was used to predict heat losses, pressure drop, and temperature profiles along the pipeline sections. The thermal approach is widely used for both drag reduction and wax prevention. This chapter presents two case studies based on realistic pipelines. The first considers the use of single and multiple heating points for the retrofit of an existing unheated pipeline based on the China leg of the Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline in Russia. The second case study considers the flameless point heating method as an alternative to the current continuous electrical heating system used in the Mangala pipeline.
