Economic analysis of transportation of crude oil of Upper Assam Basin through pipeline

To optimize the profitability of transportation of waxy Crude Oil (CO) through pipelines, an optimum cost of handling of the same is required which was the main research question in attempting this research work. Assam CO is waxy which creates difficulty in pipeline transportation at low temperatures because of its high Pour Point (PP). Also, during the winter season, the temperature of Assam drops < 10 °C, causing wax precipitation, on the inner diameter of the pipeline which reduces the effective diameter, hampering their flow. Therefore, different flow-improving treatments are done to avoid the consequences of wax precipitation. The blending of Kerosene Oil (KO) with Assam CO was done in this research to maintain their flowability through the pipeline. PP was determined by the standard ASTM D 97-66 followed by the determination of Wax Content (WC) by an analytical method based on previous literature. The economic analysis for CO transportation was done by determining the cost lines graphically in terms of Labour-Cost (L) and Capital-Cost (C) and profits were calculated for the same. An empirical equation was developed which is the novelty of this research by incorporating the cost of KO blending with CO along with C, L, and Handling Cost (H), to analyze the profit of CO transportation. The economic feasibility of CO transportation through pipelines was identified by considering the Expansion Paths (EPs) at different slopes to the cost lines which is also another novelty of this research and fluctuation of profit % for COs was also observed.