AOT: Optimizes crude oil pipeline performance for greater
operational efficiencies
In response to the accelerated growth of upstream production due to the use of enhanced oil recovery techniques, Norrønt AS is delivering QS Energy´s proprietary AOT (Applied Oil
Technology) to the Norwegian market, an industrial-grade viscosity reduction system for crude oil pipelines.
Engineered specifically to address the industry’s severe pipeline capacity challenges, AOT technology delivers field-tested and proven performance gains in the movement of crude oil through existing pipeline infrastructures.
AOT is a patent-protected, 100% solid-state system that
reduces the viscosity of oil by applying a high intensity
electrical field to the feedstock, allowing pipelines to operate
at a lower pressure and transport crude oil more efficiently.
By causing particulate matter within crude oil to clump
together, AOT decreases drag resistance, speeding the
flow of oil and increasing takeaway capacity. Once AOT
is deployed on pipeline pumping stations, oil production
and transportation companies benefit from the safer, more
cost-effective delivery of greater volumes of oil while reducing
energy consumption up to 75% and lowering CO2 emissions.
How AOT Works
AOT is the result of a multi-year research and development program conducted at Temple University (Philadelphia, Penn.) with extensive design, fabrication and testing protocols involving over a dozen leading companies from all sectors of the energy industry.
Harnessing the principles of electrorheology, the application of a high strength, high intensity electrical field to change the mechanical behavior of fluids, the AOT system decreases the viscosity of crude oil by
causing particulate matter such as paraffin, asphaltene and other impurities to clump together, reducing their surface volume. Dr. Rongjia Tao, chairman of Temple University’s Physics Department and a leading expert in the study of electrorheological fluids and magnetorheological suspension, is co-developer of the proprietary AOT viscosity reduction technology and has supervised laboratory testing of hundreds of petroleum samples, ranging from heavy bitumen
to superlight condensates, in order to prove its efficacy.
AOT delivers viscosity reduction by coagulating particulate matter found in crude oil into nanoscale particle clusters.
By aggregating these particles their total surface area is minimized, lessening their friction drag against the rest of the bulk fluid.
AOT Benefits
By significantly reducing viscosity on a wide spectrum of crude oils, AOT delivers a variety of measurable operational efficiencies:
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Increases maximum flow rates
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Reduces operating pressure
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Optimizes flow volume for many grades of crude,
increasing toll rate revenues
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Improves takeaway capacity and minimizes bottlenecks
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Reduces pump station power consumption and CO2 emissions
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100% solid-state construction for maximum uptime with minimal maintenance
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Reduces pour point wax appearance temperature
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Reduces wear and tear of pipeline equipment
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Increases safety margin
Modular design, configurable to your specifications
Comprised of an ASME-rated pressure vessel, AOT treats crude oil with a proprietary array of stainless steel components that apply a precisely controlled electrical field to the flow.
Adhering to the highest standards of safety and reliability, AOT systems are powered by robust, dedicated power supplies, connected via Class I Div. I explosion-proof junction boxes and related hardware. AOT has been deployed on a variety of SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition)
infrastructures and data collection, controls and automation is compliant with all industry-standard systems and programmable logic control (PLC) systems.
AOT can be scaled to suit many different types of installation requirements, including upstream production facilities, largescale midstream pipelines, and mobile transportation and gathering systems. Additionally, QS Energy predicts that AOT can be utilized for fracwater remediation operations and offshore
production facilities in the future.
AOT for subsea
For subsea use of the AOT technology, please contact us.