US firm STWA Inc has announced it is in the process of developing and testing product prototypes based on its chemical-free Applied Oil Technology (AOT) which it says has the potential to provide greater efficiency and substantial cost savings to land-based and deep-sea pipeline operators.
STWA’s AOT process has been proven in laboratory tests to reduce crude oil’s viscosity. This can lead to more efficient oil transportation through pipelines on land and lower extraction costs and transportation for maritime pipeline operators. Current technology includes heating crude oil and injecting drag reducing agent (DRA) chemicals to reduce oil viscosity. The AOT method uses an electric field to reduce viscosity, which requires much less energy than traditional heating methods.
By reducing the viscosity of crude oil, STWA’s technology enables crude oil pipelines to operate more effectively, increasing the daily flow of oil while reducing power requirements and the need for expensive chemical additives, thereby offsetting potential environmental liabilities.
Pipeline market surging
“The market for oil pipeline technology that AOT can potentially address is growing rapidly. Our findings show that the global oil and gas pipeline market will rise from $62.2 billion in 2010 to $100.1 billion in 2020. This comes at a time of increased government and public scrutiny and regulation over how major land- and sea-based oil field companies transport oil,” said Cecil Bond Kyte, chairman and CEO of Save The World Air Inc.
“Based on offering increased crude oil flow capacity, AOT has the potential to address this market, reduce cost for the provider and deliver safer and cleaner solutions to this multi-billion-dollar marketplace.”
STWA is an innovative company creating technology focused on energy efficiency of large-scale energy production and improved fuel economy for diesel fleets.
The company’s patented and patent-pending technologies, including AOT, under development with Temple University, and Elektra (for Improved diesel engine efficiency), provide efficient and cost-effective means of improving the efficacy of crude oil transport and diesel engine efficiency to assist in meeting increasing energy demands and emission quality standards.
