Systems and processes for improved drag reduction estimation and measurement

A process comprising:

• preparing a fluid mixture for an oil field operation or a pipeline operation, the fluid mixture comprising a concentration of a drag reducing agent determined based on a drag reduction parameter ΔB for the fluid mixture;
• and
• using the fluid mixture in the oil field operation or the pipeline operation;
• wherein the process further comprises:
• measuring one or more fluid properties of the fluid mixture in a laboratory, a flow loop, a portable apparatus, or any combination thereof;
• determining a small-scale drag reduction parameter ΔB for the fluid mixture based on the one or more fluid properties of the fluid mixture measured in the laboratory or the flow loop;
• and
• upscaling the small-scale drag reduction parameter ΔB for use in the oil field operation or the pipeline operation;
• wherein an analytical model is used for upscaling the small-scale drag reduction parameter ΔB for use in the oil field operation or the pipeline operation;
• wherein the drag reduction parameter ΔB is defined by an equation:
• ΔB=ΔBmaxBN
• wherein
• BN=0 for Wi<1 and
• BN=CDF for 0<BN<1
• wherein ΔBmax is maximum drag reduction at Wi>>1, BN is normalized drag reduction as a function of shear, Wi={dot over (γ)}wλ is Weissenberg number, {dot over (γ)}w is the wall shear rate, λ is the longest relaxation time, and CDF is a cumulative distribution function.

A process to determine drag reduction for a fluid mixture for an oil field operation or a pipeline operation comprising:

• measuring one or more fluid properties of a fluid mixture comprising a concentration of a drag reducing agent in a laboratory, flow loop, or with a portable apparatus, or any combination thereof;
• determining a small-scale drag reduction parameter ΔB for the fluid mixture based on the one or more fluid properties;
• and
• upscaling the small-scale drag reduction parameter ΔB to determine a target fluid mixture for use in the oil field operation or the pipeline operation;
• wherein the drag reduction parameter ΔB is defined by an equation:
• ΔB=ΔBmaxBN
• wherein
• BN=0 for Wi<1 and
• BN=CDF for 0<BN<1
• wherein ΔBmax is maximum drag reduction at Wi>>1, BN is normalized drag reduction as a function of shear, Wi={dot over (γ)}wλ is Weissenberg number, {dot over (γ)}w is the wall shear rate, λ is the longest relaxation time, and CDF is a cumulative distribution function.