BACKGROUND

Drag reducing agents (DRAs) have been used to reduce the drag of hydrocarbon fluids such as crude oil and refined products flowing through a conduit such as a pipeline, and hence the energy required to transport such fluids. DRAs can also increase the flow capacity of existing pipelines.

Ultrahigh molecular weight, non-crystalline polyalpha-olefins are known drag reducing agents for hydrocarbons. These drag reducing agents are typically ground at the manufacturing facilities and then dispersed in a dispersing fluid before being transported to injection sites, where DRAs are used. Slurries of ground DRA particulates are stable and can be easily pumped and injected into hydrocarbons. However, transportation of dispersing fluids increases the shipping costs, which does not directly add to or improve drag reduction performance of DRA. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for drag reducing agents that can be conveniently and economically manufactured, stored, transported, and applied with high polyalpha-olefin concentrations. It would be a further advantage if the drag reducing agents could have a long shelf life under a wide range of storage temperatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A drag reducing composition comprises: a sealed temporary container; and a drag reducing agent and up to 20 weight percent of a dispersing fluid in the sealed temporary container; wherein the drag reducing agent comprises polyolefin particles having a particle size of about 10 to about 2,000 microns; the dispersing fluid comprising water, an alcohol, a hydrocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; the temporary container comprises a container material, which includes a polyethylene, a polypropylene, an ethylene propylene copolymer, a polystyrene, a polylactic acid, a polyamide, a polyester, a polystyrene, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, an ethylene vinylpyrrolidone copolymer, a vinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyvinyl acetate, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyethylene oxide, a polyethylene glycol, polyvinylidene chloride, a polysaccharide or its derivative, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and the weight percent is based on the total weight of the drag reducing composition.

A method of reducing the flow resistance of a fluid comprises disposing the above described drag reducing composition in the fluid; and removing the temporary container.

A process of manufacturing the above described drag reducing composition comprises disposing the drag reducing agent in the temporary container; and sealing the temporary container.

