Pipeline Drying Pill Absorbing Residual Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for removing residual water from pipelines, such as hydrotesting and maintenance operations, often require heavy equipment like air compressors and vacuums, leading to increased operational costs and potential corrosion or contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A drying pill comprising a non-aqueous base fluid and a drying agent, such as swellable crosslinked polymers or desiccants, is introduced into the pipeline to absorb and remove residual water, reducing the need for heavy equipment and minimizing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional drying equipment and air spreads are used to remove residual water from pipelines, then water removal effectiveness is improved, but operational cost increases due to the need for heavy equipment such as air compressors, vacuums, and dryers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water removal function from heavy mechanical equipment and transfers it to a chemical drying agent contained in a pill. The drying pill contains desiccant materials that chemically absorb water, eliminating the need for expensive air compressors, vacuums, and industrial dryers while maintaining effective water removal from the pipeline
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical drying system (air compressors, vacuums, dryers) with a chemical system. The drying pill uses chemical absorption through desiccant materials to remove water, substituting mechanical energy consumption with chemical reaction-based water removal, thereby reducing operational costs
2Reliability
If traditional drying equipment is used to remove residual water from pipelines, then water removal is achieved, but the risk of corrosion and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying pill is designed as a disposable single-use device that is introduced into the pipeline, performs water absorption, and is then discarded. This eliminates the need for repeated use and potential contamination from equipment that must be reused, reducing corrosion and contamination risks while maintaining effective water removal
Solution Approach 2:
The drying pill creates a controlled chemical environment using inert desiccant materials that absorb water without introducing corrosive elements or contaminants. The chemical absorption process occurs in a contained manner, preventing the harmful effects associated with mechanical equipment operation
3Reliability
If heavy equipment is used for pipeline drying operations, then water removal is effective, but equipment complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the water removal function into a self-contained drying pill that can be independently introduced and removed from the pipeline. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex interconnected equipment systems, reducing operational difficulty while maintaining effective water removal through the autonomous action of the drying pill
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
The drying pill effectively absorbs and removes residual water from pipeline surfaces, reducing operational costs and preventing corrosion, while allowing for efficient pipeline drying without the use of heavy equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a drying agent capable of removing water from an interior surface of the pipeline. The drying agent contacts the residual water and is hydrated
Implementation Method 2
swellable crosslinked polymers or desiccants, is introduced into the pipeline to absorb and remove residual water
Data Source
AI summary
Drying pills for removing residual water from pipelines. An example method for drying a pipeline includes preparing a drying pill which includes a non-aqueous base fluid and a drying agent. The total volume of the drying pill is 500 bbl or less. The drying pill is introduced into the pipeline where the drying agent contacts residual water and is hydrated. The hydrated drying agent is then removed from the pipeline.