PROCESS FOR REDUCING THE RESTART PRESSURE OF STREAMS SELECTED FROM WAXY CRUDE OILS, WATER-IN-CRUDE EMULSIONS AND DISPERSIONS OF HYDROCARBON HYDRATES, AND METHOD FOR MEASURING THE PROFILE OF THE INNER DIAMETER OF A PIPELINE AND THE INSTANT VISCOSITY O

摘要

A process is described for reducing the restart pressure of streams selected from waxy crude oils, water-in-crude emulsions and dispersions of hydrocarbon hydrates, at least partially structured, characterized in that a mechanic disturbance is applied, in flow-stop conditions, on said streams, having: - temperatures lower than the WAT (Wax Appearance Temperature) for the waxy crude oils and water-in-crude emulsions; - temperatures lower than the forming temperatures of said hydrates and pressures higher than the forming pressure of said hydrates, for the dispersions of hydrocarbon hydrates. Furthermore, a method is described for measuring the inner diameter of a pipeline and the instant viscosity of the fluid contained therein, characterized in that it is performed by generating sound or infrasound waves which are generated, under flow-absence conditions, by means of fast flow-rate transients, subsequently recorded by a suitable measuring device and processed, thus obtaining the profile of the inner diameter of the duct and the instant viscosity of the fluid contained therein.