Removal Of Wax amp; Hydrate Deposits From Oil Pipelines.

摘要

Deposits 9 of gas hydrates and wax are removed from the interior of a pipeline 2 by generating heat within a chamber 1 surrounding the pipeline 2, causing the oil within the pipeline 2 to melt the deposits 9. Heat is generated by the decomposition of a chemical 5 on contact with a catalyst 3 contained within the chamber 1. Reaction products exhaust from the chamber via a non-return valve 12. A second chemical 17 may be used to start the reaction, and an inert gas 13 may be used to purge the chamber 1 of reactants when heat is no longer required. The device may be used on oil transport pipelines or on oil production pipelines, for instance by installing at the well head.