DIRECT ELECTRIC HEATING OF SUBSEA PIPING INSTALLATIONS

摘要

A method for selective direct electric heating of a target subsection of a subsea piping installation is disclosed. The target subsection is at least partially constructed of a ferrous material and is identifiable or suspected as having been blocked by a hydrate plug. The method characterized in that the target sub-section is heated to a temperature above the hydrate dissolution temperature of the hydrate plug for a given pipeline pressure and whereby heating is achieved using direct electric heating applied to the target subsection at a frequency not less than 150 Hz, the target subsection having a length of not greater than 500m.