Induction heating for short segments of pipeline systems

• US 6,278,095 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Bass, Ronald M., Kopp, Frans F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US09/628,391
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 219/629, 219/630, 219/635, 219/633, 156/272.4, 156/274.2, 166/248, 166/60, 166/61
• US Class Current: 219/629
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/01 specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 53/34 using electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields, e.g. using induction, dielectric or microwave heating
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 53/37 the heating current flowing directly through the pipe to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/168 from outside the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 58/181 for non-disconnectible pipe joints in general F16L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/03 Heating of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/108 for heating a fluid

Abstract

An subsea pipeline system having jumpers (short segments connecting equipment or wells and the main segments) that can be electrically heated is provided. The jumpers are heated by induction coils placed around the jumpers, either before placing the jumpers subsea or afterward. Electrical power may be supplied to the induction coils from current flow in the walls of the heated segment of pipeline or from an external source such as from a subsea transformer or ROV.

Claims

1. An electrically heated subsea pipeline system, comprising:

a first segment of pipeline, the first segment being a single heated insulated pipeline and having a wall, wherein the pipeline is heated by a flow of electrical current in the wall of the pipeline;

a buffer zone of pipeline, the buffer zone being adjacent the segment of single heated insulated pipeline;

a jumper, the jumper having a first end and a second end, the first end being fluidly connected to the buffer zone; and

an induction heating coil around the jumper.

2. The pipeline system of claim 1 further comprising cables connecting supply electric current and return electric current to the induction heating coil.

3. The pipeline system of claim 2 wherein the supply and return of electric current to the induction heating coil are obtained from the flow of electrical current in the wall of the pipeline.

4. The pipeline system of claim 2 wherein the supply and return of electric current to the induction heating coil are obtained from a power source separate from the first segment of the pipeline.

5. The pipeline system of claim 1 wherein the induction heating coil is permanently affixed to the jumper.

6. The pipline system of claim 1 wherein the induction heating coil is in the form of a clamp that may be placed around the jumper after the jumper is placed subsea.

7. The pipline system of claim 1 wherein the subsea pipeline system further comprises a second segment of pipeline and the second end of the jumper is fluidly connected to the second segment of pipeline.

8. The pipeline system of claim 1 wherein the second end of the jumper is fluidly connected to a wellhead.

9. The pipeline system of claim 1 wherein the second end of the jumper is fluidly connected to a manifold.

10. An electrically heated subsea pipeline system, comprising:

a first segment of pipeline wherein the pipeline has a pipe-in-pipe configuration wherein a first pipe having a wall is concentric inside a second pipe having a wall and the first and second pipes are electrically insulated from each other except at one or more selected locations and wherein the segment may be heated from flow of electrical current in the walls of the first and second pipes;

a jumper, the jumper being a single insulated pipe and having a first end and a second end, the first end being fluidly connected to the first pipe; and

an induction heating coil placed around the jumper.

11. The pipeline system of claim 10 further comprising cables connecting a supply electric current and a return electric current to the induction heating coil.

12. The pipeline system of claim 11 wherein the supply and return electric current to the induction heating coil is obtained from the flow of electrical current in the walls of the first and second pipes.

13. The pipeline system of claim 11 wherein the supply and return electric current to the induction heating coil is obtained from a power source separate from the segment of the pipeline.

14. The pipeline system of claim 10 wherein the induction heating coil is permanently affixed to the jumper.

15. The pipline system of claim 10 wherein the induction heating coil is in the form of a clamp that is placed around the jumper after the jumper is placed subsea.

16. The pipeline system of claim 10 wherein the induction heating coil is in the form of a cable that is wound around the jumper.

17. The pipline system of claim 10 further comprising a second segment of pipeline wherein the second end of the jumper is fluidly connected to the second segment of pipeline.

18. The pipline system of claim 10 wherein the second end of the jumper is fluidly connected to a wellhead.

19. The pipeline system of claim 10 wherein the second end of the jumper is fluidly connected to a manifold.