| 摘要 |
In the production and transportation of crude oil and natural gas in dry, cold areas, such as for example, the North Slope of Alaska, static electricity inside equipment like tanks and flowlines is a special problem when it is necessary to gain access to the inside of such equipment. Safer and faster access to the inside of such equipment is facilitated by removing petroleum fluids from the equipment and wetting the appropriate inside area of access of the equipment with a nonflammable liquid that facilitates discharge of the electrostatic potential. For example, the liquid may be a salt solution, an antistatic chemical solution, a solution of conductivity improvers, or a combination thereof. The nonflammable liquid must be flowed (preferably upwardly) into the area of access as a continuous stream of liquid. In other words, the nonflammable liquid is not atomized or turned into a spray. Sprays create electrostatic charges. A noncombustible gas may be used to displace combustible gases from the equipment and to prevent entry of oxygen into the equipment while being drained and opened. For added safety, a radio receiver may be used to test for the presence of residual static discharges prior to commencing work inside such equipment.
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