Heated pipe and methods of transporting viscous fluid

摘要

The invention includes systems and methods for heating a fluid and transporting the fluid at an elevated temperature. The system includes a fiber reinforced spoolable pipe. This spoolable pipe may include an inner layer, at least one reinforcing layer, at least one heating element, and at least one insulation layer. The heating element may be located external to the inner layer. The invention also includes methods of deploying and rehabilitating a spoolable pipe for transporting a fluid at elevated temperature.

主权项

1. A fiber reinforced spoolable pipe for transporting a viscous subterranean heavy oil well fluid at an elevated temperature above the ambient sub-surface temperature of the fluid, comprising:
an inner layer; at least one reinforcing layer surrounding the inner layer; a plurality of separately powered discrete length heating elements placed at discrete locations along a length of the pipe at different circumferential positions, each of the plurality of separately powered discrete length heating elements positioned between the inner layer and the reinforcing layer and adapted to connect to an external power source, wherein each of the plurality of discrete length heating elements heat or maintain at the elevated temperature the fluid being transported through the spoolable pipe, and wherein each of the plurality of discrete length heating elements is selected from the group consisting of an inductive heating element, a radiative heating element, a heat tape, a heat band, and combinations thereof; and at least one insulation layer external to the reinforcing layer, wherein the spoolable pipe is adapted for operation below ground.