Flexi-Coil® succesfully removes wax in sales pipelin in the Golf of America

Overview

A shallow-water Oil & Gas operator in Gulf of America had an oil sales pipeline that had progressive wax deposition along its length. The pipeline required wax cleanout to achieve a significant increase in production and so a rapid remedial solution was required.

Challenge

Conventional cleaning methods such pigging or chemical soaking were considered but deemed ineffective or high risk. Without intervention, this restriction could have progressed to a full blockage, resulting in production losses until corrective action was taken.

Solution

Flexi-Coil® enables interventions in complex riser pipeline systems to remediate flow assurance deposits & re-establish & enhance production. Flexi-Coil® was selected due to its unique ability to navigate the multiple short-radius pipe bends both at surface and in the export pipeline, thereby enabling a platform-based intervention. A rotating jetting nozzle was utilized for this operation to ensure full radial coverage and cleaning.
Sea water along with pills of solvent and dispersant was used as the jetting fluid to break through the wax restriction. Wiper trips were made to minimize build-up of wax behind the Flexi-Coil® and maintain clear flow.

Outcome

• Pipeline was cleaned out to a distance of approximately 8,500ft (2.59km) from the platform topsides tie-in point.
• Over 626bbls of wax was removed from the system (~155 tons).
• Cleanout objective successfully achieved.

Value to client

• Reduced period of production deferment versus alternatives.
• The client eliminated the need for a costly subsea intervention with a vessel.
• No production shutdown was required in adjoining downstream pipeline.
• Maintain pipeline integrity by avoiding hot-tapping or cutting required to enable conventional techniques.