Research on isolation characteristics of oil-based gel in sequential pipeline transportation

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2096-1693.2026.02.032

Abstract

Abstract:

Aiming at the problems of equipment wear and jamming risks existing in traditional isolation technologies (such as rubber isolation balls and isolation plugs) during sequential pipeline transportation of refined oil products, as well as the high pumping pressure difference and poor pipe diameter adaptability of traditional gel systems, this study aims to develop a new type of oil-based gel. By testing its shear dilatability, structural recovery and gel breaking efficiency, the isolation performance under complex working conditions can be improved. Reduce oil mixing loss. Using diesel as the base liquid, thickener and crosslinking agent were added successively to prepare oil-based gels of different concentrations. The rheological properties of the gel were determined by a rotational rheometer. The real working conditions were simulated through indoor and outdoor circulation pipeline experiments to evaluate the shear recovery, interface stability and isolation effect of the gel. And after the experiment, the gel-breaking efficiency of the gel-breaking agent and the influence of its residue were studied. Experiments show that the viscosity of oil-based gels increases significantly with the increase of concentration. Moreover, after being sheared by the centrifugal pump, it still maintains the rheological properties of the gel. The 2% concentration gel forms a wedge-shaped interface, and the isolation efficiency is significant. After the pump was stopped for 24 hours and then restarted, the gel viscosity could return to the initial level. The selected gel breaker can complete the gel breaking within 1 hour. After the gel breaking, the viscosity is basically the same as that of diesel, and there is no residual pollution. The new oil-based gel demonstrates excellent shear recovery rate and interface stability in pipelines of different diameters. It is suitable for complex pipeline start-up and shutdown as well as high shear conditions, and can significantly reduce oil mixing loss, providing a reliable technical solution for the efficient isolation and transportation of refined oil pipelines.

Key words: oil-based gel, sequential transportation, isolation, shear resistance, structural resilience, rheology

摘要：

针对成品油管道顺序输送中传统隔离技术(如橡胶隔离球、隔离塞)存在的设备磨损、卡阻风险及传统凝胶体系泵送压差高、管径适应性差等问题，本研究旨在开发一种新型油基凝胶，通过测试其剪切稀释性、结构恢复性及破胶效率，以提升复杂工况下的隔离性能，减少混油损失。以柴油为基液，向其中依次加入稠化剂和交联剂，制备不同浓度的油基凝胶。采用旋转流变仪测定其流变特性，通过室内外循环管路实验模拟真实工况，评估凝胶的剪切恢复性、界面稳定性及隔离效果；并在实验结束后，研究破胶剂的破胶效率及残留影响。实验表明，油基凝胶的粘度随浓度增加显著提升；且离心泵剪切后仍保持凝胶体的流变特性，2%浓度凝胶形成楔形界面，隔离效率显著；停泵24 h后重启，凝胶粘度能够恢复至初始水平；筛选的破胶剂可在1 h内完成破胶，破胶后粘度与柴油基本保持一致，无残留污染。新型油基凝胶在不同管径的管道中均展现出优异的剪切恢复率与界面稳定性，适用于复杂管道启停及高剪切工况，可显著降低混油损失，为成品油管道高效隔离输送提供了可靠的技术方案。

关键词: 油基凝胶, 顺序输送, 隔离, 抗剪切性, 结构恢复性, 流变性

YANG Wen, LI Miao, QU Haoxuan, XU Zhongying, LIANG Jingying, FENG Runze, CHEN Gang, FANG Xiaoyan, CAO Xuewen. Research on isolation characteristics of oil-based gel in sequential pipeline transportation[J]. Petroleum Science Bulletin, 2026, 11(4): 1205-1216.

杨文, 李苗, 曲浩轩, 徐中英, 梁晶莹, 冯润泽, 陈刚, 房晓燕, 曹学文. 油基凝胶在成品油顺序输送中的隔离特性研究[J]. 石油科学通报, 2026, 11(4): 1205-1216.

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URL: https://sykxtb.cup.edu.cn/EN/10.3969/j.issn.2096-1693.2026.02.032

https://sykxtb.cup.edu.cn/EN/Y2026/V11/I4/1205

Figures/Tables 21

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of pipeline segregated transport

Table 1 Experimental material

代号	药品名称	化学式	规格	品牌
EB	乙二醇单丁醚	C₆H₁₄O₂	AR	国药沪试
EG	乙二醇	(CH₂OH)₂	AR	国药沪试
BA	硼酸	H₃BO₃	AR	国药沪试
XL-3	氯化铝	AlCl₃	AR	罗恩
柴油	柴油	/	/	中石化加油站
D1	三乙醇胺	C₆H₁₅NO₃	AR	国药沪试

Fig. 2 Experimental device for cyclic isolation

Fig. 3 Oil-based gel

Fig. 4 Gel time at different temperatures under a shear rate of 50 s^-1

Fig. 5 Gel time at different temperatures and different shear rates

Fig. 6 Viscosity of gel after standing under different gelatinization conditions

Fig. 7 Viscosity of oil-based gels at different concentrations under different shear rates

Fig. 8 Oil-based gel modulus as a function of stress at different concentrations

Fig. 9 Oil-based gel modulus versus frequency at different concentrations

Table 2 Relaxation times of oil-based gels at different concentrations

浓度/%	弛豫时间/ms
0.50	85.7
0.75	46.4

Table 3 Experimental data for different experimental media

实验介质	流量/(m³/h)	压差/kPa	离心泵效率/%
柴油	39.34	3.35	43.3
1.00%凝胶	34.56	5.87	28.7
1.50%凝胶	32.95	6.63	21.2
2.00%凝胶	31.07	10.53	13.6

Fig. 10 oil-based gel passing through special overflow parts

Fig. 11 Viscosity of gels at different concentrations after pumping and shearing for 10 min

Fig. 12 Viscosity of oil-based gels of different concentrations after stopping the pump for different times and then starting the pump for 10 min shearing

Table 4 Types of glue breaking agents and glue breaking effect

破胶剂种类	代号	搅拌时间/h	破胶状态
有机胺类	D1	1	能破胶
有机胺类	D2	1	未能完全破胶，静置后恢复凝胶状
无机盐类	D3	1	未能完全破胶，静置后恢复凝胶状
	D4	1	未能完全破胶，静置后恢复凝胶状
	D5	1	未能完全破胶，静置后恢复凝胶状

Fig. 13 Flow changes in a tube with a wedge-shaped interface formed by gel/diesel fuel

Fig. 14 Density variation of flow at the wedge-shaped interface formed by gel/diesel fuel

Fig. 15 Physical drawing of oil-based gel after gel breakage

Fig. 16 Viscosity of oil-based gels with different concentrations after breaking

Table 5 Various indicators after mixing

样品	运动粘度/(mm²/s)	凝点/℃	浊点/℃	闪点/℃	密度/(g/L)	水分/%	十六烷
柴油	4.380	-27	2	60	846	0.10	50
40%破胶液	7.774	-26	2	68	851	0.15	53
20%破胶液	5.138	-26	2	65	849	0.13	52
10%破胶液	4.500	-27	2	62	846	0.11	50

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