APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR RESTORING FLUID FLOW WITHIN A SUBSEA PIPE SEGMENT

摘要

An apparatus and system for removing at least a portion of a hydrate deposit within a subsea pipe segment (91) includes a submersible remotely-operated plurality of and inter-coupled modules (20), each module having a laser emitting element (25). A power conduit (21) is provided to supply one of an electrical current source and laser light to the apparatus. Each module further comprises at least one magnet for securing the module to an exterior surface of a subsea pipe segment A flexible coupling (45) secures each module to at least one adjacent module. The plurality of modules are deployable on the exterior surface of the subsea pipe segment and the modules are activatable to impinge laser light from the laser emitting elements onto the exterior surface of the subsea pipe segment. A hydrophone (49) and/or a temperature sensor may be provided on the apparatus. A remotely operated vehicle may be used to deploy and recover the apparatus.