System and method for pipeline cleaning using controlled injection of gas
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsLee D. Rhyne, James R. Stoy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of cleaning sediment from a liquid-transporting pipeline comprises injecting gas into the pipeline. The injected gas forms a bubble in the pipeline and the bubble travels in a direction towards a discharge of the pipeline. Resulting turbulence at a trailing surface of the bubble causes sediment in the pipeline to become entrained in a liquid phase trailing the bubble. The bubble and sediment entrained in a liquid phase trailing the bubble are conveyed to the discharge of the pipeline.
Claims23
A method of cleaning accumulations from a generally horizontal, fluid-transporting pipeline, the method comprising:
- providing a flow of fluid into the pipeline via a first inlet of the pipeline and through the pipeline toward a discharge;
- and
- injecting gas into the pipeline via a second inlet of the pipeline to form a bubble in the pipeline, such that the bubble travels in a direction toward the discharge of the pipeline with a liquid slug adjacent the bubble, and with turbulence at an end of the bubble causing accumulations in the pipeline to become entrained in the slug and conveyed with the slug to the discharge of the pipeline.
A system for cleaning accumulations from a generally horizontal, fluid-transporting pipeline, the system comprising:
- a pipeline;
- and
- an inlet in the pipeline for injecting gas into the pipeline to form a bubble in the pipeline, such that the bubble travels in a direction toward a discharge of the pipeline with a liquid slug adjacent the bubble, and with turbulence at an end of the bubble causing accumulations in the pipeline to become entrained in the slug and conveyed with the slug to the discharge of the pipeline.
A pipeline comprising:
- an inlet for injecting gas into the pipeline to form a bubble in the pipeline, such that the bubble travels in a direction toward a discharge of the pipeline with a liquid slug adjacent the bubble, and with turbulence at an end of the bubble causing accumulations in the pipeline to become entrained in the slug and conveyed with the slug to the discharge of the pipeline;
- a gas source fluidly connected to the inlet for injecting gas into the pipeline;
- and
- a controller that can initiate injection of the gas into the pipeline via the inlet for injecting gas into the pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.