Process for managing hydrate and wax deposition in hydrocarbon pipelines

Abstract

A process for managing hydrates and hydrocarbon-based solids in a hydrocarbon stream. The process includes: introducing the hydrocarbon stream into an inlet of a system comprising at least a first cold flow reactor and a second cold flow reactor, each cold flow reactor comprising a heat exchanger and at least one static mixer; directing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the first cold flow reactor; cooling the portion of the hydrocarbon stream directed to the first cold flow reactor to a temperature less than the hydrate formation temperature, the temperature effective to substantially complete hydrate formation upon exiting the system to form a hydrate and hydrocarbon-based solids managed hydrocarbon stream; directing a lesser portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the second cold flow reactor; and remediating the second cold flow reactor by removing hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids formed on internal surfaces of the second cold flow reactor. A remediable system for managing hydrates and hydrocarbon-based solids in a hydrocarbon stream is also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.