We often think of oil as a lubricant. However, friction is created when oil is pumped through pipelines. This friction slows down the oil, limiting how much oil can be transported.

In the past, moving more crude oil meant building larger pipelines, heating the oil or installing stronger pumps to move the oil through the pipeline network. Today, pipeline companies have added another alternative – drag reducing agents (DRA).

DRA, a product composed of long-chain hydrocarbon polymers, has the consistency of cold molasses. As little as 10 to 15 gallons of the product is used for every million gallons of crude oil. Once DRA is injected and dissolves in the crude oil, it reduces the friction, between the crude and the pipe wall, increasing the volume of crude oil moving through the same pipe.

This novel solution is used in about 40 percent of the oil that is transported through the U.S. pipeline system. Enbridge Pipelines Inc. and its U.S. affiliate, Enbridge Energy Partners’ Lakehead System, are just two of the many pipeline companies that rely on DRAs to minimize pumping energy costs and maximize system efficiency.

“Our continuing, long-term goal is to transport crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons in not only the safest but also the most efficient way possible,” said Leon Zupan, vice president of operations for Enbridge. “Drag reducing agents help make this possible by allowing us to safely move more oil through our systems when additional capacity is required.”

There are some 8,500-miles of pipeline in Enbridge’s liquid system, making it the world’s longest crude oil and liquid petroleum pipeline system.  Along with other system enhancements, use of DRAs is one of the ways that allows Enbridge to transport more than two-million barrels per day of liquid petroleum products, including more than 75 different types of light, medium and heavy crude oils.

The North American pipeline infrastructure is a vital part of our transportation network.  Pipeline companies like Enbridge are responsible for transporting crude oil, and with innovations such as drag reducing agents, this important transportation mode is even more effective.