Composition and method for pipeline conditioning and freezing point suppression
AssigneeClearwater International, LLC
InventorsAlan Sweeney, Brian Hallett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
Claims27
A method for hydrotesting or pressure testing pipelines comprising the step of:
- filling a pipeline or a portion thereof with an aqueous composition including an effective amount of a metal ion formate salt,
- pressurizing the pipeline to a pressure between about 1.25 and about 1.5 times an operating pressure of the pipeline without a concern for having to clean up material lost from leaks, and
- discharging the aqueous composition directly into the environment after the pressurizing, without further processing or treatment,
- where the effective amount is sufficient to reduce an amount of bulk water and/or an amount of residual water in the pipeline below desired amounts and to depress a freezing point temperature of the composition to a temperature below an operating temperature of the pipeline, where operating temperature is below the freezing point of pure water.
A system for use in conditioning and/or pressure testing pipelines comprising an aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of a metal ion formate salt, where the aqueous composition fills a pipeline or portion thereof, where the pipeline or portion thereof is pressurized to a pressure between about 1.25 to about 1.5 times an operating pressure of the pipeline, where the effective amount is sufficient to reduce an amount of bulk water and/or an amount of residual water in the pipeline below desired amounts and/or to depress a freezing point of the aqueous composition to a temperature below an operating temperature of a pipeline to be conditioned or tested, where the operating temperature of the pipeline is below the freezing point of pure water, and where the aqueous composition is directly discharged into the environment without further processing or treatment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.