Wells – Processes – Heating – cooling or insulating
Reexamination Certificate
2005-10-18
2005-10-18
Walker, Zakiya (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Heating, cooling or insulating
C166S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06955221
ABSTRACT:
Hydrocarbon liquids are transported from a subsea welihead to an above-surface hydrocarbon processing facility along a pipe-in-pipe flowline. The flowline is a pipe placed coaxially within an outer carrier pipe and the annulus between the pipes is filled with thermally insulating material. The hydrocarbon liquids have their temperature maintained above solidification/precipitation temperature by heat from an active heating system. Hot liquid, preferably hot water, is passed along the annulus, either along a single pipe or multiple pipes installed in the insulation-filled annulus, or along an inner annulus formed by a water pipe added concentrically around the hydrocarbon-transporting inner pipe, inside the outer insulation-filled annulus. The water or other suitable liquid can be heated in a heater at or adjacent the subsea wellhead, or by a water heater in the above-surface hydrocarbon processing facility.
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Sheridan & Ross P.C.
Stolt Offshore Inc.
Walker Zakiya
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