Ideal Energy Solutions Case Studies

Subsea Pipeline Communication Established After 7 Days with PipeRenew®

Written by Ideal Energy Solutions | Apr 1, 2022 4:25:43 PM

In only seven days, Ideal’s PipeRenew® treatment restores full flow
to 8-in. subsea oil pipeline plugged, with no communication, for ten months.

  Offshore, LA  |  VR-214        Chevron

 

Quickly navigate through this Case Study:

CHALLENGE

RESPONSE

RESULTS

 

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE

Paraffin deposition along the entire horizontal length of an 8-in., 7,550-ft subsea oil pipeline was so severe that decommissioning was considered. Four previous attempts to establish communication, by pumping a PAO-100 paraffin inhibitor at more than 1,200 psi, had failed. Prior to losing communication, normal operating pressure was between 75-85 psi. The line was last pigged in 1998.

 

Deposit analysis indicated a mixture of paraffin wax (17%) and iron oxides (83%). Blockage was identified at 469 ft from the initiation point at one end, and a possible blockage of 467 ft from the initiation point at the other end.

The chart below shows the departing pipeline pressure 14 days prior to
losing communication, as well as the point at which the blockage occurred.

 

 

IDEAL'S RESPONSE

Deposit analysis of the plugged material showed the sample contained large amounts of iron oxides. A deposit sample would have to be retrieved from a line with no communication. Based on experience, Ideal personnel thought corrosion material along the pipe wall, combined with the plugged material, caused it to be contaminated and not representative of the actual plug. Ideal believed much higher levels of paraffin and formation materials were present than reported in the deposit analysis. 

 

Ideal recommended their PipeRenew® treatment, the only non-hazardous, environmentally responsible remediation solution that effectively removes paraffin and asphaltenes. The PipeRenew® treatment reacts with the portion of oil that contributes to the acid value to make a simple soap. This breaks up the paraffin and allows it to be pumped out.

 

Proper pre-job planning, including a site visit, equipment selection, and proposed equipment layout allowed for a safe and effective job execution. M/V Abigail Claire was the base of operations for this project. Our support team included CEMC, Supreme Services, Blanchard Contractors, and Aries Marine.

VERMILLION 214A
2-inch RTJ flange and ball valve installed on bottom of pig trap.
50 bbl MPT tank set on deck to collect flowback.
2-inch hose with Fig. 206 hammer union connections connected pig trap to MPT tank.
25 bbl cut box to collect paraffin.
2-inch hot tap installed on riser.
This is not a requirement. PipeRenew® can be injected into the pipeline from any sufficient entry point on the platform.

VERMILLION 214C
2-inch RTJ flange and ball valve installed on bottom of pig launcher.
50 bbl MPT tank to provide volume for flushing.
2-inch hose with Fig. 206 hammer union connections connected pig launcher to cut box.
25 bbl cut box to collect displaced production fluid.
Skillets installed on top of pig launcher.
2-inch hot tap installed on riser.
This is not a requirement. PipeRenew® can be injected into the pipeline from any sufficient entry point on the platform.

M/V ABIGAIL CLAIRE
3 - 500 bbl tanks to collect solids and flushed liquids.
PE-5 pump to inject PipeRenew®.
3-inch air diaphragm pump for mixing.
3-inch air diaphragm pump to prime PES.
350-gallon mixing tote.
2 - 550-gallon totes for product storage.
50 bbl sea water clean out tank.

PROJECT CHRONOLOGY

Day 1
  • Upon installation of the injection point at Vermilion 214 C, 9.5 bbls of PipeRenew® were pumped into the line before weather shut down operations for the day.


Day 2
  • Pumped 12 bbls of PipeRenew® from M/V Abigail Claire into the line at Vermilion 214 A until the production fluid in the line was displaced and captured in the NPT tank of the platform.
  • Operations then moved to Vermilion 214 C and pumping was mobilized on the platform. 18 bbls of PipeRenew® were pumped into the line.


Day 3
  • Started pumping from Vermilion 214 C at 11:00 a.m. and pressured up to 500 psi. Vermilion 214 A started receiving returns at 12:05 p.m.
  • Communication was established after eight hours of total pumping time and 44.5 bbls of PipeRenew® injected into the line.


Day 4
  • Started pumping from Vermilion 214 C at 9:45 a.m. while Vermilion 214 A was still getting returns.
  • Communication would come and go throughout the day as we continued to push paraffin through the line toward Vermilion 214 A.
  • Pumping pressure ranged from 500-1,290 psi.


Day 5
  • Loaded pumping equipment back onto M/V Abigail Claire and moved operations to Vermilion
    214 A for the day.
  • Pumped a total of 29 bbls of PipeRenew® from M/V Abigail Claire into the line at Vermilion 214
  • Left line pressure at 1,250 psi.


Day 6
  • Line pressure at Vermilion 214 A was down to 670 psi. Line pressure at Vermilion 214 C was up to 40 psi.
  • 12:00 noon - pressure at Vermilion 214 C was up to 60 psi.
  • 12:35 p.m. - Started pumping and was able to inject 7 bbls of PipeRenew® in a short period of time. Vermilion 214 A was receiving returns at a very low rate.
  • Pumping pressure ranged from 1,100-1,350 psi.


Day 7
  • Pressure at the Vermilion 214 C was 620 psi and Vermilion 214 A was 48 psi.
  • 8:30a.m. - Started pumping and we were able to pump 12 bbls of PipeRenew® into the line in
    less than an hour.
  • 1:30 p.m. - Vermilion 214 A reported returns having the consistency of pea soup.
  • 4:20 p.m. - We started pumping again and pressure increased to 1,350 psi in only five minutes.
  • Continued to maintain pressure on the line for the remainder of the day.


Day 8
  • Since the line pressure had climbed to 78 psi at Vermilion 214 A, the decision was made to monitor the pressure for several hours before pumping.
  • The following pressure readings were observed and recorded:

  • The substantial pressure equalization achieved over a two-hour period was a very good indication that we would be able to remove the plugged material in the near future.
  • 9:34 a.m. - Vermilion 214 A reported returns of paraffin sludge almost immediately.
  • 10:54 a.m. - Pumping pressure increased to 1,350 psi and the rate was less than 0.15 bbls per minute.
  • 12:35 p.m. - Pumping pressure dropped to 800 psi and we were able to pump at a rate of 0.5 bbls per minute for several minutes before the pressure started increasing. We continue to pump for an additional 10 minutes until pressure reached 1,250 psi. At this time, we stopped pumping to see how fast the pressure would drop.
  • 1:40 p.m. - Pumped continuously at a rate of 0.5 bbls per minute. This was a very good sign that we were pushing the material out of the line.
  • 2:55 p.m. - Blockages were removed and communication established after 45 hours of total pumping time. The pumping rate was up to 2 bbls per minute with minimum pressure.
  • Communication was established

 

 

 

HIGH PERFORMANCE RESULTS

A total of 133 bbl of PipeRenew® treatment was pumped into the line. Approximately 15% of the solution was collected with the production fluid during the displacement and pumping process. Total capacity of the line was only 397 bbl, indicating the line contained 284 bbl of paraffin solids and sludge. This was consistent with the amount collected during the treatment process. Ideal executed the job safely and on schedule, and after seven days, full communication was established.

 

 

 

 

For more information about how non-hazardous, environmentally
responsible PipeRenew® remediation treatment can cost-effectively
remove paraffin and asphaltenes from your pipeline,
contact your Ideal Energy Solutions representative today.

 

 
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