SG11201804748PA - Systems for removing blockages in subsea flowlines and equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

_T\ Figure 3 W O 20 17 / 135 9 41 Al (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date WO 2017/135941 Al 10 August 2017 (10.08.2017) WIPO I PCT 11111111111111011101111111111101011111011111111011111111111011111011111111111110111111 (51) International Patent Classification: E21B 23/08 (2006.01) E21B 41/08 (2006.01) E21B 37/06 (2006.01) (21) International Application Number: PCT/US2016/016320 (22) International Filing Date: 3 February 2016 (03.02.2016) (25) Filing Language: English (26) Publication Language: English (71) Applicant: FMC TECHNOLOGIES OFFSHORE, LLC [US/US]; d/b/a FTO Services, 2000 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. S., Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77042 (US). (72) Inventors: SKEELS, Harold Brian; 3610 Shady Village Drive, Kingwood, Texas 77345 (US). JOHNSON, Mark Alan; 859 E. 25th St., Houston, Texas 77009 (US). KNIGHT, Kevin Roy; 17323 Edsall Dr., Spring, Texas 77388 (US). (74) Agents: AMERSON, J. Mike et al.; Amerson Law Finn, PLLC, 2500 Fondren Rd., Suite 220, Houston, Texas 77063 (US). (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JP, KE, KG, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). Published: — with international search report (Art. 21(3)) (54) Title: SYSTEMS FOR REMOVING BLOCKAGES IN SUBSEA FLOWLINES AND EQUIPMENT (57) : Disclosed are various to blockage remediation systems for removing blockages, e.g., hydrate plugs, debris plugs, etc., from subsea flowlines and subsea equipment. In one illustrative embodiment, the system includes, among other things, an ROV (102) deployed into a body of water from a surface vessel (10) and a blockage remediation skid (104) that is operatively coupled to the ROV (102), wherein the skid (104) includes at least a skid fluid inlet (108A) and a skid fluid outlet (106A). The system also in - cludes a returns downline (106) and a pressurized lift-gas supply downline (108) that extends into the body of from the vessel (10). The returns downline (106) is operatively coupled to the skid fluid outlet (106A), while the pressurized lift-gas supply downline (108) is adapted to be operatively and directly coupled to the blockage remediation skid (104) or operatively and directly coupled to the returns downline (106). The system also includes a remediation flow line (110) that is operatively coupled to the skid fluid inlet (110A) and a flowline (16) or an item of subsea equipment (12, 15 or 17).