Remediation of agglomerated flow improvers
The present embodiment can teach a method of feeding to a materials processor a mixture containing an agglomerated drag reducer. The mixture is then homogenized to produce a remediated drag reducer. The maximum particle size diameter of the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is at least 5% larger than the maximum particle diameter of the remediated drag reducer.
1. A method comprising:
forming a drag reducing polymer;
storing the drag reducing polymer, wherein an agglomerated drag reducing polymer is formed during storage;
feeding a mixture comprising the agglomerated drag reducing polymer to an inline materials processor;
homogenizing the mixture using the inline materials processor to produce a remediated drag reducing polymer, wherein homogenizing the mixture is performed inline of an injection pump; and
supplying the remediated drag reducing polymer into a pipeline using the injection pump,
wherein a maximum particle size diameter of the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is at least 5% larger than a maximum particle size diameter of the remediated drag reducing polymer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is incapable of flowing through a 10 mm pore filter without leaving any substantial solids residue.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is incapable of flowing through a 3 mm pore filter without leaving any solids residue.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is incapable of being injected through an injection pump using ¼ to 1 inch diameter check valves without clogging the injection pump.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a minimum shear rate of the inline materials processor is 2,000 sec −1 .
6. A method, comprising:
forming a drag reducing polymer;
storing the drag reducing polymer for at least one year or at a temperature above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein an agglomerated drag reducing polymer is formed during storage;
feeding a mixture comprising the agglomerated drag reducing polymer and at least one liquid to an inline materials processor;
homogenizing the mixture using the inline materials processor to produce a remediated drag reducing polymer, wherein the homogenizing the mixture is performed inline of an injection pump, wherein a maximum particle size diameter of the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is at least 5% larger than a maximum particle size diameter of the remediated drag reducing polymer; and
supplying the remediated drag reducing polymer into a pipeline using the injection pump.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is incapable of flowing through a 10 mm pore filter without leaving any substantial solids residue.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is incapable of flowing through a 3 mm pore filter without leaving any substantial solids residue.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is incapable of being injected through an injection pump using ¼ to 1 inch diameter check valves without clogging the injection pump.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one liquid is selected from a liquid component used to manufacture the agglomerated drag reducing polymer.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one liquid is a stabilizer.
12. The method of claim 6 , wherein a minimum shear rate of the inline materials processor is 2,000 sec −1 .
13. A method comprising:
forming a drag reducing polymer;
storing the drag reducing polymer;
feeding the drag reducing polymer to an inline materials processor; homogenizing the drag reducing polymer using the inline materials processor to produce a remediated drag reducing polymer, wherein the homogenizing the drag reducing polymer is performed inline of an injection pump; and
supplying the remediated drag reducing polymer into a pipeline using the injection pump.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the drag reducing polymer comprises agglomerated drag reducing polymer.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising feeding at least one liquid with the drag reducing polymer to the inline materials processor.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one liquid comprises a nonionic surfactant, an ionic surfactant, a partitioning agent, water, alcohol having one to eight carbon atoms, glycols, or mixtures thereof.