Operational and Economic Optimization of Drag Reducing Agents in Natural Gas Liquids Pipelines Using Hydraulic Modeling and SCADA Integration

Abstract

Drag Reducing Agents (DRA) are widely used to increase transportation capacity and reduce energy consumption in Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) pipelines. However, in many systems their application relies on conservative dosing schemes with limited integration into real-time operations, which constrains both technical and economic efficiency. This work develops an integrated approach that combines steady-state hydraulic modeling with SCADA system interaction to optimize DRA dosing under real operating conditions. The methodology is applied to an NGL transportation system comprising multiple pipeline segments, pumping stations, and significant elevation changes, evaluating capacity increase scenarios between 90 and 130 MBPD. The results show that, by adjusting operational margins and optimizing minimum pressures at critical locations, DRA dosing can be reduced by 22% to 66% compared to design-based schemes, while preserving hydraulic integrity and operational constraints. From an economic perspective, the optimized strategy reduces annual DRA expenditure by up to USD 1.2 million at the maximum evaluated capacity, yielding cumulative savings of approximately USD 12.5 million over a 20-year operating horizon. Furthermore, the integration of hydraulic modeling with SCADA enables dynamic DRA dosing adjustments, enhancing operational efficiency and real-time decision-making. The proposed approach is replicable in other liquid hydrocarbon pipeline systems and provides technical criteria for advanced additive management in pipeline operations