The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2007
Filed:
Jun. 25, 2004
Keijo Kinnari, Sola, NO;
Catherine Labes-carrier, Hafrsfjord, NO;
Jim Bob Crawford, Lafayette, LA (US);
Larry J. Kirspel, Covington, LA (US);
Bill Torrance, Aberdeen, GB;
Keijo Kinnari, Sola, NO;
Catherine Labes-Carrier, Hafrsfjord, NO;
Jim Bob Crawford, Lafayette, LA (US);
Larry J. Kirspel, Covington, LA (US);
Bill Torrance, Aberdeen, GB;
Statoil ASA, Stavanger, NO;
Crawford Technical Services, Inc., LaFayette, LA (US);
Abstract
A method for removal of deposits such as hydrate plugs from a pipeline is provided including inserting a thruster pig connected to a return flow line into the pipeline The pig is then advanced forward into the pipeline by pumping a thrusting fluid into an annulus between the pipeline and the return flow line while removing deposits continuously or intermittently and returning flow as appropriate from ahead of the pig through the return flow line. The return flow line is then disconnected from the pig after sufficient deposit removal and retrieved from the return flow line. Next, the pig may then be transported through the pipeline by the pipeline fluid to a pig receiving location once the pipeline flow is resumed.