Abstract
The low cost, non-intervention, effective solution for remediating flowline and umbilical blockages, that are in deepwater and a long distance from the Asset.
Blockages within flowlines and umbilical cores present an on-going concern within the oil and gas offshore industry. The more infrastructure that is installed subsea, the greater the risk of further blockages. Deepwater and cold water (arctic) fields are driving ever longer and more complex tie-backs. Maintaining these supply and production conduits free from blockages is a high priority for operators. Unfortunately, either through change in producing conditions or simply through human error, blockages commonly develop within these systems.
Few effective techniques exist for estimating the locations of blockages. A limited number of techniques also exist for removing them. However, neither task can be undertaken with certainty and, in particular, it is sometimes impossible to remove blockages by traditional means and at an acceptable cost. The actual costs of blockages to operators are enormous.
