Pipeline Clamp Heating for Paraffin and Hydrate Plug Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for remediation of plugged pipelines, such as electric and thermal blankets, are inefficient and costly, and existing solutions like pipe-in-pipe designs and hot fluid circulation systems face issues with weight, reliability, and high installation costs, while dual pipeline installations are expensive and environmentally impactful.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves clamping a remediation device to the pipeline, drilling a hole, and injecting a heated media into the annulus to dissolve plugs, utilizing the pipeline's own insulation and allowing for single pipeline tiebacks, reducing capital and operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electric or thermal blankets are placed over pipeline insulation, then heating can be provided, but heat is lost to the cold seawater environment and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary heating system that circulates hot fluid through a separate loop, using a heat exchanger to transfer heat to the pipeline. This mediator approach allows controlled heat transfer while minimizing direct exposure to cold seawater, reducing energy loss compared to external blankets.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is segmented into separate functional components: a hot fluid circulation loop, a heat exchanger, and the pipeline itself. This segmentation allows the heating function to be isolated from the pipeline, enabling efficient heat transfer while maintaining system independence and reducing energy loss to the environment.
2Temperature
If pipe-in-pipe design with outer steel shell is used, then thermal insulation efficiency is improved, but weight increases requiring large and expensive installation vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy outer steel shell from the design, retaining only the essential inner pipe and insulation layers. By removing the unnecessary outer protective shell, the system achieves adequate thermal insulation without the excessive weight that would require large installation vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the pipeline by eliminating the outer steel shell and optimizing the insulation thickness and material properties. This parameter optimization maintains thermal insulation efficiency while significantly reducing the overall weight of the pipeline system.
3Reliability
If pigging activity is implemented to keep pipeline clean, then flow assurance is improved, but dual parallel pipelines are required increasing capital expenditure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating and insulation functions into a single integrated system rather than requiring separate pipelines for different functions. By merging these functions and implementing effective in-line plug removal through hot fluid circulation, the system maintains flow assurance without needing dual parallel pipelines, thus reducing device complexity and capital expenditure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively removes paraffin and hydrate plugs by enhancing heat transfer, reducing installation costs, and minimizing environmental impact through efficient heat application directly to the pipeline, enabling cost-effective and predictable plug remediation.
Implementation Method 1
injecting a heated media into the annulus to dissolve plugs, utilizing the pipeline's own insulation
Implementation Method 2
circulating hot fluid through the annulus, exchanging heat with the production pipelines
Implementation Method 3
encased in an outer steel shell, the 'outer pipe'
Implementation Method 4
circulating hot fluid through the annulus, exchanging heat with the production pipelines
Data Source
AI summary
The presently disclosed technology is directed toward the removal of plugs in a pipeline segment by installing one or more clamping devices onto a pipeline. The clamping device will have the ability to access the inside of the pipeline segment and inject media designed to dissolve the plug.