Drag-Reduction Effectiveness of Xanthan Gum in Water Flow System

Drag reduction is the reduction of pressure drop and skin friction in turbulent flows. This is achievable by adding Drag Reducing Agents (DRA) such as polymers, surfactant solutions and fiber particles. This investigation focuses specifically on the potential of the Xanthan gum polymer as a DRA....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Awang Sapawi, Awang Muhamad Safuan
Format: Final Year Project
Language:English
Published: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10411/1/2011%20-%20Drag-Reducision%20Effectiveness%20of%20Xanthan%20Gum%20in%20Water%20Flow%20System.pdf
http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10411/
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Summary:Drag reduction is the reduction of pressure drop and skin friction in turbulent flows. This is achievable by adding Drag Reducing Agents (DRA) such as polymers, surfactant solutions and fiber particles. This investigation focuses specifically on the potential of the Xanthan gum polymer as a DRA. The efficiency of water flooding and water injection is limited to the maximum injection rate executable. Some fields require a higher amount of water injected at one time to attain the desired reservoir pressure. Using DRA to improve the water transport in these could be an economic and efficient option for the oil and gas industry. The effectiveness of Xanthan gum as DRA is investigated using a water flow system made up of galvanized steel pipes and a reciprocal pump. Among variables tested are the concentration, degradation and pump RPM to determine the Xanthan gum's performance as a drag reducing agent. From the experiment results, it is found that drag reduction increases as Xanthan gum concentration and Reynolds number increases. The experiment results prove that Xanthan gum has great potential as a DRA. It is hoped that this research will lead to a widespread use of this polymer in improving water injection and transportation.