Method for pipeline conditioning
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.
Claims11
A method for conditioning pipelines comprising the steps of:
- filling a pipeline or portion thereof with a first aqueous composition including a first effective amount of a metal ion formate salt,
- pressurizing the pipeline to a desired test pressure, where the first effective amount is sufficient to reduce an amount of bulk water and/or an amount of residual water in the pipeline below desired amounts thereby suppressing gas hydrate formation and/or reducing a freezing point of the aqueous composition to a desired sub-freezing point temperature at the test pressure, and
- discharging the first aqueous composition directly into the environment without further processing or treatment after the pressurizing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.