Improving the efficiency of transportation of high-viscosity oil through trunk pipelines by introducing heat pump technology

Abstract

The article deals with the issues of introducing an increase in the efficiency of transportation of high-viscosity oil through the main oil pipelines of the Republic of Kazakhstan by introducing heat pump technology for heating it using unconventional energy sources. For the first time, a specific technology and scheme for the use of a low–carbon modular heat pump complex (NMTC) for heating crude oil using the waste heat of water with a temperature of +110C separated after separation of the oil-water emulsion pumped from wells has been proposed for practical implementation at the facilities of JSC NC KazMunayGas (hereinafter - JSC KMG). The Yu.Z. Kamyshitovoye field with a 2-stage oil heating scheme is being preliminarily considered as a pilot site for conducting pilot–industrial tests (hereinafter - СPI) by NGDU "Zhaiykmunaygas". During the СPI, it is planned to install a module with a heat pump (NMTC) at the oil heating unit, thereby reducing the load on the process furnaces, which will eventually significantly reduce fuel gas consumption. This initiative is innovative and for the first time provides for the use of heat pumps in the process of heating oil in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The prospects for the use of NMTC are in the replication of this technology to other mining assets of JSC NC KazMunayGas.