Drag Reducing Agents (DRAs)

Improving operating costs without sacrificing pipeline throughput.

Simply put, DRAs help to reduce the frictional pressure within the flow of a pipeline or conduit. Acting as buffers along the pipe wall, drag reducing agents are high molecular weight polymers that decrease the amount of energy lost in turbulent-flow. DRAs enable operators to increase pipeline throughput while utilizing the same amount of energy on in some cases, less. They are also used to decrease the pressure drop at a desired fluid flow rate.

Innospec’s industry-leading DRAs are engineered to solve the complex challenges that other drag reducers fail to effectively, efficiently address. Suitable for both crude oil and refined fuel applications, IOS DRAs can help de-bottleneck pipeline systems without expensive equipment upgrades. They also reduce energy consumption by minimizing drag within the pipeline, lower operating pressures without sacrificing pipeline capacity, and prevent additional costs by eliminating both intermediate pump stations and the need for additional pipeline infrastructure to increase capacity.

Less product, superior results.

Based on flow chemistry and fluid mechanics, IOS’s DRA product technology can be applied via a very low concentration dosage to increase throughput, reduce pipeline operating pressure, and cut energy costs. In addition, custom-built IOS skids are designed to inject precise amounts of a DRA into a pipeline to achieve the desired throughput for customers.