The invention provides a cooler apparatus and a method use. The cooler apparatus has at least one heat exchange conduit passing through a cooling medium. The method comprises flowing a fluid to be cooled through the at least one heat exchange conduit from a first cooler inlet to a first cooler outlet, to cool the fluid from an inflow temperature to an exit temperature by heat exchange with the cooling medium. In an aspect of the invention, the flow of the fluid through the at least one heat exchange conduit and the flow of the cooling medium are controlled to cause a local increase in a temperature in a selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit. This causes deposits of solids to be released from an inner surface of the selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit into the flowing fluid. The method may comprise restricting or containing the cooling medium around the selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit, and/or controlling the flow of the fluid to be cooled by re-routing the flow path of the fluid through a selected inlet of the at least one heat exchange conduit.
F28G 13/00 - Appliances or processes not covered by groups Combinations of appliances or processes covered by groups
F17D 3/01 - Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product
F28D 1/047 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with the heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
2.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRECIPITATION OF SOLIDS IN HYDROCARBON FLOW SYSTEMS
The invention provides a cooler system for a hydrocarbon flow system and a method of use. The cooler system comprises a heat exchange conduit comprising a primary inlet for receiving a fluid to be cooled and a primary outlet. A return conduit is fluidly connected to the heat exchange conduit at a return location downstream of the primary inlet, and is configured to direct at least a proportion of fluid in the heat exchange conduit from the return location to a secondary cooler inlet system. The secondary cooler inlet system enables inflow of recycled fluid from the return conduit to the heat exchange conduit at a plurality of inflow positions along the hydrocarbon flow system, upstream of the return location. The method comprises flowing fluid into the hydrocarbon flow system at one or more of the plurality of inflow positions.
F17D 1/16 - Facilitating the conveyance of liquids or effecting the conveyance of viscous products by modification of their viscosity
F17D 1/17 - Facilitating the conveyance of liquids or effecting the conveyance of viscous products by modification of their viscosity by mixing with another liquid
C10G 31/06 - Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for by heating, cooling, or pressure treatment
3.
Method, system and apparatus for hydrocarbon flow system fluid cooling
The invention provides a method of cooling a flowing fluid in a hydrocarbon flow system using a heat exchange cooler apparatus having at least one cooler conduit; and a sensor system. The method comprises flowing the fluid through the cooler conduit from a cooler inlet to a cooler outlet to cool the fluid and operating a cleaning system to deliver energy (e.g. heat) to the cooler conduit to cause solid materials deposited on the interior of the cooler to be released into the flowing fluid. A cooler sensor data set obtained from the sensor system is compared with a reference data set to verify the performance of the cleaning system.
The invention provides a cooler apparatus and a method use. The cooler apparatus has at least one heat exchange conduit passing through a cooling medium. The method comprises flowing a fluid to be cooled through the at least one heat exchange conduit from a first cooler inlet to a first cooler outlet, to cool the fluid from an inflow temperature to an exit temperature by heat exchange with the cooling medium. In an aspect of the invention, the flow of the fluid through the at least one heat exchange conduit and the flow of the cooling medium are controlled to cause a local increase in a temperature in a selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit. This causes deposits of solids to be released from an inner surface of the selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit into the flowing fluid. The method may comprise restricting or containing the cooling medium around the selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit, and/or controlling the flow of the fluid to be cooled by re-routing the flow path of the fluid through a selected inlet of the at least one heat exchange conduit.
F28F 27/02 - Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels
F28D 7/06 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits having a single U-bend
F28D 1/02 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with the heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
F28G 13/00 - Appliances or processes not covered by groups Combinations of appliances or processes covered by groups
F28G 15/00 - CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OF BOILERS Details
5.
PIPE ASSEMBLY, COOLING SYSTEM WITH PIPE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF COOLING A FLUID
Disclosed herein is a pipe assembly comprising: a pipe with an electrically conductive wall with a thermally conductive outer coating; a first electrical connector that is arranged in electrical contact with the wall of the pipe; and a second electrical connector that is arranged in electrical contact with the wall of the pipe; wherein the first and second electrical connectors are arranged to support the flow of an electrical current through the wall of the pipe to thereby heat the wall of the pipe; and in use, the pipe is arranged to allow cooling of the outer surface of the wall of the pipe by the surrounding environment of the pipe when the outer surface of the wall of the pipe is hotter than its surrounding environment. Advantageously, embodiments provide an effective, efficient and less expensive technique for heating the pipe in order to remove deposits for the inner walls of the pipes. Applications include the subsea application of cooling oil well products for cold flow.
The invention provides a cooler system for a hydrocarbon flow system and a method of use. The cooler system comprises a heat exchange conduit comprising a primary inlet for receiving a fluid to be cooled and a primary outlet. A return conduit is fluidly connected to the heat exchange conduit at a return location downstream of the primary inlet, and is configured to direct at least a proportion of fluid in the heat exchange conduit from the return location to a secondary cooler inlet system. The secondary cooler inlet system enables inflow of recycled fluid from the return conduit to the heat exchange conduit at a plurality of inflow positions along the hydrocarbon flow system, upstream of the return location. The method comprises flowing fluid into the hydrocarbon flow system at one or more of the plurality of inflow positions.
The invention provides a method of cooling a flowing fluid in a hydrocarbon flow system using a heat exchange cooler apparatus having at least one cooler conduit; and a sensor system. The method comprises flowing the fluid through the cooler conduit from a cooler inlet to a cooler outlet to cool the fluid and operating a cleaning system to deliver energy (e.g. heat) to the cooler conduit to cause solid materials deposited on the interior of the cooler to be released into the flowing fluid. A cooler sensor data set obtained from the sensor system is compared with a reference data set to verify the performance of the cleaning system.
Disclosed herein is a pipe assembly comprising: a pipe with an electrically conductive wall with a thermally conductive outer coating; a first electrical connector that is arranged in electrical contact with the wall of the pipe; and a second electrical connector that is arranged in electrical contact with the wall of the pipe; wherein the first and second electrical connectors are arranged to support the flow of an electrical current through the wall of the pipe to thereby heat the wall of the pipe; and in use, the pipe is arranged to allow cooling of the outer surface of the wall of the pipe by the surrounding environment of the pipe when the outer surface of the wall of the pipe is hotter than its surrounding environment. Advantageously, embodiments provide an effective, efficient and less expensive technique for heating the pipe in order to remove deposits for the inner walls of the pipes. Applications include the subsea application of cooling oil well products for cold flow.
sea) and at least one vehicle arranged on or near the outer circumference of the cooling flowline. Furthermore, each vehicle may include at least one sleeve configured to at least partly surround an outer circumference of the cooling flowline, deposit removing means being configured to remove deposits situated on an inner wall of the cooling flowline, and a propulsion unit configured to drive the vehicle bi-directionally on the cooling flowline.
B08B 9/027 - Cleaning the internal surfacesRemoval of blockages
B08B 7/00 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass
B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools
B08B 7/02 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned
A fluid flow processing plant and a method for pig-free removal of wax and hydrate deposits in hydrocarbon production flowlines. The fluid flow processing plant (1) comprises at least one cooling flowline (2), cooling means (3-7) arranged to cool the fluid in the at least one cooling flowline (2) over a cooling section (8) until the fluid reaches a temperature at or near the cooling flowline's surrounding temperature (Tsea) and at least one vehicle (9) arranged on or near the outer circumference (2a) of at least one of the at least one cooling flowline (2). Furthermore, each vehicle (9) comprises at least one sleeve (10) configured to at least partly surround an outer circumference (2a) of the cooling flowline (2), deposit removing means (11) being configured to remove deposits (12) situated on the inner wall (2b) of the cooling flowline (2) and a propulsion unit (13-15) configured to drive the vehicle (9) bi-directionally on the cooling flowline (2).
A bi-directional pig apparatus for removing wax and hydrate deposits in subsea hydrocarbon production flowlines including a pig arranged for movement inside a pipe, the pig having a tubular body and one or more magnets arranged in a circumferential wall of said body, each of the one or more magnets includes an elongated bar having a succession of teeth and slots, arranged such that the succession of teeth are facing radially outwards. The apparatus having a through-going opening between opposite ends of said tubular body to allow fluids (F) in the pipe to flow through and propulsion means arranged and configured for imparting a motive force to the pig, whereby the pig is movable inside the pipe.
B08B 9/055 - Cleaning the internal surfacesRemoval of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved along the pipes by a fluid, e.g. by fluid pressure or by suction the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the cross-section of the pipes, e.g. pigs or moles
B08B 9/043 - Cleaning the internal surfacesRemoval of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes
B08B 9/049 - Cleaning the internal surfacesRemoval of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes having self-contained propelling means for moving the cleaning devices along the pipes
12.
A PIPELINE PIG APPARATUS, AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A PIG
A bidirectional and fail-safe pipeline pig apparatus for a pipeline system comprises a pig (20) arranged for movement inside at least a pipe portion (5; 5') of the pipeline system and comprising a tubular body (22a; 22b; 22d) having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the central axis of the pipe portion (5; 5') and at least one through-going opening (24, 24') between the opposite ends of the tubular body. Fluids (F) in the pipeline system are allowed to flow through the body, and the apparatus further comprising propulsion means (40; 50) arranged and configured for imparting a motive force to the pig, whereby the pig is movable inside the pipe portion independently of the fluid flow of in the pipeline system. A fluid flow processing plant comprises a feed pipeline (5a) fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir and arranged for feeding fluid into the plant, and an export pipeline (5b) for conveying the fluid away from the plant. At least one intermediate pipe (5; 11, 5') is fluidly connecting the feed pipeline with the export pipeline and comprising a pipeline pig apparatus according to the invention.
B08B 9/043 - Cleaning the internal surfacesRemoval of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes
B08B 9/049 - Cleaning the internal surfacesRemoval of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes having self-contained propelling means for moving the cleaning devices along the pipes
patents
