Flowline blockage remediation system and method of use

Abstract

An internal flowline remediation system comprises an internal flowline remediation valve; an internal flowline remediation coiled tubing (CT) tensioner; a supporting umbilical termination assembly (UTA) operatively connected to the internal flowline remediation valve and the internal flowline remediation CT tensioner; a coil tubing unit comprising coiled tubing operatively connected to the internal flowline remediation CT tensioner and dimensioned to fit within a pipeline and to allow fluid and hydrate debris to flow between an outer surface of the coiled tubing and an inner surface of the pipeline and a nozzle; an angular hot tap in fluid communication with the internal flowline remediation valve and configured to interface with the pipeline at a predetermined non-right angle offset from an axis defined by an interior of the pipeline; and a hot tap valve disposed in-between and in fluid communication with the angular hot tap and the internal flowline remediation valve.

Description

FLOWLINE BLOCKAGE REMEDIATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USEINVENTORS: Nikunj Patel; Yuri Coelho Del'Sarto; Abishek Kumar SinghCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority through United States Provisional Application 202411075000 filed on October 4, 2024, incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Currently the blockages formed inside production flowline can be anything from wax, asphaltene, hydrates or mixture of all of them. Current flowline remediation systems (FRS) techniques or solutions have two major issues. First, the effort required for Remediation, e.g., in terms of time (e g., a number of days), pumping power, vacuum generation over unpredictable large distances until blockage, suction power for dissolved / disintegrated blockage to the either end of flowline, and the like. Second, improper or partial flowline remediation, e.g., due to random nature of blockage formation where blockage may form anywhere inside a flowline’s length. For example, if the blockage is miles away from either end of the flowline, e.g., at a center of a flowline, then injecting chemical and creating suction up to that length is a bigger challenge which often lead to partial remediation) because current flowline remediation method utilize existing PLETS as method to intervene or inject chemicals and also to create suction. These PLETS can be very far from blockage. Additionally, it is also tough to heat the blockage region for a particular temp consistently via accessing through either extremity.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0003] Various figures are included herein which illustrate aspects of embodiments of the disclosed inventions.{ N ATAER0000066121.0 } Page 1 of 9

[0004] Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary embodiment of an internal flowline remediation system;

[0005] Fig. 2 is a cutaway view of an exemplary portion of an internal flowline remediation system;

[0006] Fig. 3 is views in partial perspective of an exemplary portion of an internal flowline remediation system;

[0007] Fig. 4 is a view in partial perspective of an exemplary portion of an internal flowline remediation system;

[0008] Fig. 5 are views in partial perspective of an exemplary portion of an internal flowline remediation system;

[0009] Fig. 6 are views in partial perspective of an exemplary portion of an internal flowline remediation system; and

[0010] Figs. 7-15 are flow diagrams of exemplary methods involving an exemplary portion of an internal flowline remediation system.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The disclosed invention comprises an internal flowline remediation system (IFRS) which performs flow line remediation of blockage from reaching its proximity. In embodiments, the IFRS can perform at depths of 3000m in seawater with an operating temperature of up to around 51 °C inside flowline with a maximum pressure inside the flowline of around lOKsi be tapped and does not need vessel support, although such can be present. It can provide flow and pressure containment of crude / oil without impacting a surrounding environment with accidents such as a leak which may require a skilled engineering intervention.{ N ATAER0000066121.0 } Page 2 of 9

[0012] The disclosed invention can typically operate at water depth of up to around 3000m. In its embodiments, it is operated by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and is a diverless system. In addition, the disclosed system can operate in flowlines from 0% to 100% buried and typically does not require a pipeline end termination PLET or any pipeline interface to attach. As used herein a “blockage” can comprise a hydrate, an asphaltene, a wax, or a combination thereof.

[0013] In a first embodiment, referring generally to Fig. 1, internal flowline remediation system 1 does not need a pipeline end termination PLET or pipeline interface to attach, and comprises internal flowline remediation valve 10; internal flowline remediation coiled tubing CT tensioner 12; supporting umbilical termination assembly UTA 14 operatively connected to the internal flowline remediation valve 10 and the internal flowline remediation CT tensioner 12; supporting return handling skid RHS 16 operatively connected to the internal flowline remediation valve 10; a coil tubing unit 20 comprising coiled tubing 22 operatively connected to the internal flowline remediation CT tensioner 12, where coiled tubing 22 is dimensioned to fit within a pipeline 100 and to allow fluid and hydrate debris to flow between an outer surface 23 of the coiled tubing 22 and an inner surface 101 of the pipeline 100; and nozzle 24, e.g., an injector head, terminating a predetermined end 25 of the coiled tubing 22; angular hot tap 30 in fluid communication with the internal flowline remediation valve 10 and configured to interface with the pipeline 100 at a predetermined non-right angle offset from an axis 102 defined by an interior 103 of the pipeline 100; and hot tap valve 32 disposed in-between and in fluid communication with the angular hot tap 30 and the internal flowline remediation valve 10. Angular hot tap 30 typically acts as a smart tap which will act as an intervention access point for internal flowline remediation valve 10 where this intervention access point can be “tapped” as close as required, e.g., around a meter, to blockage 120 once the position and extent of blockage 120 is known.{ N ATAER0000066121.0 } Page 3 of 9

[0014] In embodiments, hot tap valve 32 comprises a ball valve operatively in fluid communication with coiled tubing 20.

[0015] In embodiments, emergency disconnect 34 may be present and operatively in fluid communication with coiled tubing 20.

[0016] Although not needed for each embodiment, remotely operated vehicle ROV 500 may be present.

[0017] Heating cable 26 may be present and disposed within coiled tubing 20 and extend to a predetermined position proximate predetermined end 25 of coiled tubing 22. In embodiments, heating cable 26 comprises a mineral-insulated heating cable, a single-phase electrical circuit, e.g., using two cables (Fig. 6), installed into coiled tubing 22, or the like, or a combination thereof.

[0018] Deployment vessel 200 is typically present and used to aid in deployment of internal flowline remediation system 1.

[0019] In embodiments, stopper 104, plug 105, deflector 106, or PLET 107 may be present and used during the remediation process.

[0020] In the operation of exemplary methods, referring back to Fig. 1, generally, angular hot tapping may be used for insertion of coiled tubing 22 for remediation reaching to proximity of blockage 120. Using coiled tubing 22, in embodiments chemical / inhibitor injection may be imparted along with heated fluids. Typically, blockage 120 in pipeline 100 may be remediated by identifying a position of blockage 120 within pipeline 100; determining an extent of blockage 120, such as by using non-destructive testing NDT or other inspection methods; installing angular hot tap 30 proximate blockage 120; advancing coiled tubing 22 through angular hot tap 30 to a position proximate blockage 120, e.g., nozzle 24 positioned at a predetermined distance from blockage 120 to where it can be effective; deploying heating cable 26 through coiled{ N ATAER0000066121.0 } Page 4 of 9tubing 22 to a position proximate nozzle 24 to allow for heated fluid to be injected against blockage 120; while ensuring pressure containment, e.g., via angular hot tap 30, using heated cable 26 to applying thermal energy to heat an area proximate blockage 120 such as by heating fluid proximate blockage 120; and allowing fluid and remediated solids from blockage 120 to be received without requiring a PLET.

[0021] In embodiments, solvent source 60 may be present and in fluid communication with coiled tubing 22. In these embodiments, nozzle 24 comprises a solvent injector in fluid communication with solvent source 60 and the method further comprises injecting solvent from solvent source 60 into pipeline 120 proximate blockage 120. This may be in combination with, or replace, heating cable 26 and its use, e.g., heating may not be required. In typical embodiments, however, injection occurs along with the heating, allowing the injection to operate as a substantially continuous injection, e.g., like jetting out which once blockage 120 begins to dissolve to create a direction back flow across an annulus region formed between outer surface 23 of coiled tubing 22 and interior 103 of the pipeline 100.

[0022] Figures 7-15 illustrate various scenarios in which internal flowline remediation system 1 may be used.

[0023] The foregoing disclosure and description of the inventions are illustrative and explanatory. Various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrative construction and / or an illustrative method may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.{ N ATAER0000066121.0 } Page 5 of 9

Claims

Claims1) An internal flowline remediation system (1) that does not need a pipeline end termination (PLET) or pipeline interface to attach, comprising: a) an internal flowline remediation valve (10); b) an internal flowline remediation coiled tubing (CT) tensioner (12); c) a supporting umbilical termination assembly (UTA) (14) operatively connected to the internal flowline remediation valve (10) and the internal flowline remediation CT tensioner (12); d) a supporting return handling skid (RHS) (16) operatively connected to the internal flowline remediation valve (10); e) a coil tubing unit (20) comprising: i) coiled tubing (22) operatively connected to the internal flowline remediation CT tensioner (12), the coiled tubing (22) dimensioned to fit within a pipeline (100) and to allow fluid and hydrate debris to flow between an outer surface (23) of the coiled tubing (22) and an inner surface (101) of the pipeline (100); and ii) a nozzle (24) terminating a predetermined end (25) of the coiled tubing (22); f) an angular hot tap (30) in fluid communication with the internal flowline remediation valve (10) and configured to interface with the pipeline (100) at a predetermined non-right angle offset from an axis (102) defined by an interior (103) of the pipeline (100); and g) a hot tap valve (32) disposed in-between and in fluid communication with the angular hot tap (30) and the internal flowline remediation valve (10).2) The internal flowline remediation system that does not need a PLET or any pipeline interface to attach of Claim 1, wherein the hot tap valve comprises a ball valve.{ N ATAER0000066121.0 } Page 6 of 93) The internal flowline remediation system that does not need a PLET or any pipeline interface to attach of Claim 1, further comprising an emergency disconnect operatively in fluid communication with the coiled tubing.4) The internal flowline remediation system that does not need a PLET or any pipeline interface to attach of Claim 1, further comprising a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).5) The internal flowline remediation system that does not need a PLET or any pipeline interface to attach of Claim 1, further comprising a heating cable disposed within the coiled tubing and extending to a predetermined position proximate the predetermined end of the coiled tubing.6) The internal flowline remediation system that does not need a PLET or any pipeline interface to attach of Claim 5, wherein the heating cable comprises a mineral-insulated heating cable.7) The internal flowline remediation system that does not need a PLET or any pipeline interface to attach of Claim 5, wherein the heating cable comprises a single-phase electrical circuit installed into a coiled tube.8) The internal flowline remediation system that does not need a PLET or any pipeline interface to attach of Claim 1, further comprising a deployment vessel (200).9) The internal flowline remediation system that does not need a PLET or any pipeline interface to attach of Claim 1, further comprising a stopper, a plug, a deflector, or a PLET.10) A method of blockage remediation, comprising: a) identifying a blockage position within a pipeline; b) determining an extent of the blockage; c) installing the angular hot tap proximate the blockage;{ N ATAER0000066121.0 } Page 7 of 9d) advancing the coiled tubing through the angular hot tap to a position proximate the blockage; e) deploying the mineral-insulated heating cable through the coiled tubing to a position proximate the nozzle; f) while ensuring pressure containment, using the heated cable to applying thermal energy to heat an area proximate the blockage; and g) allowing fluid and remediated solids from the blockage to be received without requiring a PLET.11) The method of blockage remediation of Claim 10, further comprising using an NDT inspection method to determine the blockage position and extent.12) The method of blockage remediation of Claim 10, wherein the system further comprises a source of solvent and the nozzle comprises a solvent injector in fluid communication with the source of solvent, the method further comprising injecting solvent from the source of solvent into the pipeline proximate the blockage.13) The method of blockage remediation of Claim 12, wherein injection occurs along with the heating, allowing the injection to operate as a substantially continuous injection.{ N ATAER0000066121.0 } Page 8 of 9

Images