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.
Claims15
A method for hydrotesting pipelines comprising the step of:
- filling a pipeline or portion thereof with an aqueous composition including an effective amount of a metal ion formate salt, 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 reduce a freezing point of the aqueous composition to a desired sub-freezing point temperature below an operating temperature of the pipeline or portion thereof,
- pressurizing the pipeline to a desired test pressure, and
- discharging the aqueous composition directly into the environment after the pressurizing step, without further processing or treatment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.