Protecting a fluid stream from fouling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9714374-B2
Application number	US-201213545639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2012
Priority date	Jul 15, 2011
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a system and methods for protecting a fluid stream from fouling using particles that include phase change materials. In an example, the particles are injected into the fluid stream and release energy at a selected temperature, which may warm the fluid stream.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for protecting a fluid stream in a hydrocarbon production pipeline from fouling, comprising injecting particles into the fluid stream in the hydrocarbon production pipeline, wherein the particles comprise a microencapsulated liquid exothermic phase change material configured to undergo a phase change by solidification and release heat at a selected temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected temperature is greater than a clathrate formation temperature in the fluid stream.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected temperature is greater than a wax precipitation temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising separating the particles from the fluid stream.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising filtering the particles from the fluid stream.

6. The method of claim 4 , comprising electromagnetically removing the particles from the fluid stream.

7. The method of claim 4 , comprising flocculating the particles from the fluid stream.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
heating the particles to reverse the phase change, thereby recharging the phase change material; and
re-injecting the particles into the fluid stream.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising heating the particles to reverse the phase change.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising modifying a surface of the particles to make the surface more hydrophilic or more hydrophobic.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising injecting at least about 50 ppm of the particles into the fluid stream.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a density of the particles to match a target phase.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material comprises an inorganic material, an organic material, a eutectic blend, or any combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material comprises a salt hydrate.

Assignees

• Berchane Nader S
• Brookes Chisa K
• Turner Douglas J
• Lachance Jason W
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Berchane Nader S
• Brookes Chisa K
• Turner Douglas J
• Lachance Jason W

Classifications

• E21B43/36

  Underwater separating arrangements (E21B43/38 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C09K2208/22

  Hydrates inhibition by using well treatment fluids containing inhibitors of hydrate formers · CPC title

• C09K8/536 Primary

  characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. encapsulated material · CPC title

• B01D37/00

  Processes of filtration (processes specially adapted for filtering gases B01D46/00) · CPC title

• B01D21/01

  using flocculating agents (for purifying water C02F1/52; for liquid radioactive waste G21F9/10) · CPC title