Methods and systems for sand removal

A system for sand removal from an offshore facility having a pipeline, the system comprising:

• a desanding system configured to discharge a quantity of sand;
• a scraper device comprising:
• a scraper body comprising a scraper flange configured to scrape an inner wall of the pipeline,
• a sand collection chamber disposed within the scraper body and configured to receive the quantity of sand discharged from the desanding system, and
• a chamber door operatively connected to the scraper body and configured to enclose the sand collection chamber,
• wherein the scraper device is configured to be transported through the pipeline;
• and
• a sand loading system operatively connected to the desanding system and configured to:
• load the scraper device into a scraper loading chamber,
• translate the scraper device from the scraper loading chamber into a sand loading chamber through a separation gate;
• position the scraper device to receive the quantity of sand from the desanding system using the separation gate and the sand loading chamber;
• receive the quantity of sand from the desanding system into the sand collection chamber of the scraper device;
• pressurize the sand loading chamber;
• translate the scraper device into the pipeline from the sand loading chamber;
• and
• transport the scraper device from the offshore facility through the pipeline.

A method for sand removal from an offshore facility having a pipeline, the method comprising:

• loading a scraper device into a scraper loading chamber,
• wherein the scraper device comprises a sand collection chamber;
• translating the scraper device from the scraper loading chamber into a sand loading chamber through a separation gate;
• positioning the scraper device to receive a quantity of sand from a desanding system using the separation gate and the sand loading chamber;
• opening a chamber door of the scraper device;
• receiving the quantity of sand into the sand collection chamber from the desanding system;
• closing the chamber door to enclose the sand collection chamber;
• pressurizing the sand loading chamber;
• translating the scraper device into the pipeline from the sand loading chamber;
• and
• transporting the scraper device from the offshore facility through the pipeline.