Chapter 6: Chemical and Mechanical Treatments to Enhance/Maintain Pipeline Operations

Chemical and mechanical processes for maintaining various pipeline activities are required in support of the dual goals of flow assurance (FA) and pipeline integrity management (IM). Essentially all the chemical enhancements (corrosion, scale, and organic-foulant inhibitors, and flow enhancers) require at least one mechanical step for application. Thus, both types of processes are needed for operational successes. The extensive methods used for cleaning and renovating fouled pipelines, including progressive pigging and pigs staged with chemical solvents, are described in Chapter 7. Note that Chapter 7 overlaps somewhat with the current chapter as well as with Chapter 5. The next sections of this chapter, Sections 6.1 through 6.4, provide short reviews of the various chemicals used in pipeline maintenance. These include corrosion inhibitors, inorganic scale and organic deposit inhibitors, and friction reducers, gastreating chemicals, and demulsifiers. Many more details of these chemicals and applications are found in Frenier and Ziauddin (2008), Frenier et al. (2010), Frenier and Ziauddin (2014), Kelland (2009; 2013), Ali et al. (2016), and Hill and Cassidy (2016). Also note the references in the following sections.