How to Resolve Full-Bore Blockages Without Costly Subsea Intervention

With no flow communication possible, chemical injection is ineffective and conventional solutions demand expensive DSV or rig intervention — often with long mobilisation lead times that compound deferred production losses.

Full-bore blockages are caused by severe accumulation of paraffin wax, asphaltene, hydrate, or sand that has been left untreated or that has precipitated rapidly during an unplanned shutdown. Once communication across the plug is lost, topside pressure cannot be used to circulate solvents, and the only apparent option is physical excavation or subsea bypass — both requiring marine assets.

Apply Paradigm’s Pipe-Pulse® technology, which generates and deploys controlled transient pressure surges into the blocked line from a single topside connection. These surges progressively break down the blockage structure, either dislodging the plug entirely or restoring enough communication for chemical or fluid circulation. For physically inaccessible sections, Flexi-Coil® provides a platform-deployed, rig-free mechanical alternative.

Paradigm’s Pipe-Pulse® and Flexi-Coil® are specifically engineered for full-bore blockage remediation in the most challenging subsea environments without DSV or rig involvement. Pipe-Pulse® is effective over distances up to 100 km, is deployed non-intrusively from topside, and avoids both the cost and schedule risk of subsea construction work. Paradigm’s flow assurance case studies include documented removal of full-bore wax and hydrate blockages in subsea flowlines — a directly relevant track record.