Remote Star-End Heating Conduits for Subsea Flow Assurance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea pipelines face challenges in maintaining high temperatures to prevent wax and hydrate deposition, which can lead to pipeline plugs, especially in longer pipelines, and existing electrical heating systems face issues with power loss and thermal damage from star-end connections.
Innovation Solution
A subsea installation with a termination module that creates a short-circuit connection between heating cables, located remotely from the pipeline, allowing for efficient electrical heating of ancillary structures like spools and manifolds without dedicated power distribution, and utilizing a star-end connection submerged in water for heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical heating cables are used to maintain pipeline temperature, then flow assurance is improved, but power loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from the pipeline itself and relocates it to external heating cables wrapped around the pipeline. This separation allows the heating system to be independently optimized and controlled, reducing energy loss while maintaining flow assurance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple heating cables into a single integrated heating system wrapped around the pipeline. This merging of multiple heating elements improves overall heating efficiency and reduces total power consumption compared to individual heating systems.
2Temperature
If heating cables are extended to ancillary structures, then thermal management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating cable system is designed to serve multiple functions: heating the pipeline and providing thermal management to ancillary structures such as spools and manifolds. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate heating systems for different components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is segmented into modular sections that can be independently installed and controlled. Each segment can be tailored to specific thermal requirements of different pipeline sections or ancillary structures, simplifying the overall system design.
3Ease of operation
If star-end connections are used for heating cables, then electrical connection is simplified, but thermal damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary thermal management system between the star-end electrical connection and the pipeline. This intermediary layer, such as thermal insulation or heat dissipation structures, prevents direct thermal damage to the pipeline while allowing electrical connections to be made.
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 solution extends electrical heating to external equipment, reduces power loss, and facilitates easier maintenance by dissipating heat effectively, thus preventing pipeline plugs and enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
heat produced by passing an electric current along the cables is conducted firstly from the cables to the pipe wall
Implementation Method 2
heat produced by passing an electric current along the cables is conducted firstly from the cables to the pipe wall and secondly through the pipe wall to the produced fluid flowing within the flowline
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea installation for the production of hydrocarbons includes a flowline and a group of heating cables extending along the flowline. A star end termination effecting short-circuit connection between the heating cables of the group is located at a subsea location remote from the flowline. For example, a subsea structure or fluid conduit in fluid communication with the flowline, such as a PLET or a spool, can be interposed between the termination and the flowline. The termination may be a module that is connectable electrically to the heating cables via flying leads and connector hubs.