Method for reducing the pipeline drag of heavy oil and compositions useful therein

Abstract

A method of reducing the viscosity of a heavy oil flowing through a pipe is disclosed. The method includes mixing heavy oil, water and an effective amount of C1 to C10 alcohol so as to reduce the viscosity by at least 20% that of the heavy oil. The amount of water present in the heavy oil should be less than about 50% vol. and preferably from about 1% vol. to about 10% vol. The alcohol preferably should be a primary linear alcohol and more preferably is a C3 to C7 primary linear alcohol which may be selected from 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol or combinations thereof The concentration of alcohol should be less that 10% by weight of the mixture. The mixture may further include a polymeric drag reducing agent in a concentration from about 1 to about 10,000 ppm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.