Methods using formate gels to condition a pipeline or portion thereof

摘要

A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.

主权项

1. A method for conditioning pipelines comprising the steps of:
filling a pipeline or portion thereof with an aqueous composition including a metal ion formate salt and an effective amount of a gelling agent, where the effective amount is sufficient to form a gelled composition having increased viscosity and where the gelled composition provides a 100% (360 degree) coverage of the pipe wall, and pressurizing the pipeline or portion thereof filled with the gelled composition to a desired test pressure, where the formate salt in the gelled composition reduces gas hydrate formation in the pipeline or portion thereof during the pressurizing step.