Process for managing hydrate and wax deposition in hydrocarbon pipelines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9868910-B2
Application number	US-201615137471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2016
Priority date	Jun 4, 2015
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

A process for managing hydrates and hydrocarbon-based solids in a hydrocarbon stream. The process includes: introducing the hydrocarbon stream into an inlet of a system comprising at least a first cold flow reactor and a second cold flow reactor, each cold flow reactor comprising a heat exchanger and at least one static mixer; directing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the first cold flow reactor; cooling the portion of the hydrocarbon stream directed to the first cold flow reactor to a temperature less than the hydrate formation temperature, the temperature effective to substantially complete hydrate formation upon exiting the system to form a hydrate and hydrocarbon-based solids managed hydrocarbon stream; directing a lesser portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the second cold flow reactor; and remediating the second cold flow reactor by removing hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids formed on internal surfaces of the second cold flow reactor. A remediable system for managing hydrates and hydrocarbon-based solids in a hydrocarbon stream is also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for managing hydrates and hydrocarbon-based solids in a hydrocarbon stream, the process comprising:
(a) introducing the hydrocarbon stream into an inlet of a system comprising at least a first cold flow reactor and a second cold flow reactor, each cold flow reactor comprising a heat exchanger and at least one static mixer;
(b) directing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the first cold flow reactor;
(c) cooling the portion of the hydrocarbon stream directed to the first cold flow reactor to a temperature less than the hydrate formation temperature to form a hydrate and hydrocarbon-based solids managed hydrocarbon slurry stream;
(d) directing a lesser portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the second cold flow reactor;
(e) remediating the second cold flow reactor by removing hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids formed on internal surfaces of the second cold flow reactor;
(f) forming a remediation slipstream comprising removed hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids from the second cold flow reactor; and
(g) returning the remediation slipstream from the second cold flow reactor to the inlet of the system.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids are removed by introducing methanol into the lesser portion of the hydrocarbon stream.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids are removed by heating the external surfaces of the second cold flow reactor.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids are removed by heating the external surfaces of the second cold flow reactor.

5. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
(h) after the remediating (e), directing at least a subsequent portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the second cold flow reactor;
(i) cooling the subsequent portion of the hydrocarbon stream directed to the second cold flow reactor to a temperature less than the hydrate formation temperature to form a hydrate and hydrocarbon-based solids managed hydrocarbon slurry stream;
(j) directing a subsequent lesser portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the first cold flow reactor; and
(k) remediating the first cold flow reactor by removing hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids formed on internal surfaces of the first cold flow reactor.

6. The process of claim 5 , further comprising (l) forming a subsequent remediation slipstream comprising removed hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids from the first cold flow reactor.

7. The process of claim 6 , further comprising (m) returning the subsequent remediation slipstream from the first cold flow reactor to the inlet of the system.

Assignees

• Lachance Jason W
• Starkey Michael G
• Bond William E
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Lachance Jason W
• Starkey Michael G
• Bond William E

Classifications

• C10G31/06 Primary

  by heating, cooling, or pressure treatment · CPC title

• C10L3/108

  Production of gas hydrates · CPC title

• E21B43/01

  specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations · CPC title

• C10G29/00

  Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, with other chemicals · CPC title

• C10L2290/06

  Heat exchange, direct or indirect · CPC title