Crude oil pipeline abandonment
Crude oil pipeline abandonment
(OP)
I'm trying to find information about crude oil pipeline abandonment standards or techniques. Is the line flushed? If so, what is used?? Is the line purged with an inert gas? Thanks in advance.





RE: Crude oil pipeline abandonment
Do you need to keep the pipeline in a high quality state? If so, you might run some cleaning pigs with water, or a solvent, followed by water, then N2 inerting, or a series of cleaning trains, if a clean ID is thought to be useful to have at some time in the future.
It is also possible to leave it only with water and a corrosion inhibitor.
Many unused pipelines are being converted to fiber optic carriers, so it could be an advantage if it was to be sold off for that purpose.
http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com
RE: Crude oil pipeline abandonment
RE: Crude oil pipeline abandonment
Overly conservative might not jive with leaving water and corrosion inhibitor inside, in which case just leave it empty, or full of low pressure dry N2 if you want to preserve. Check up on the corrosion inhibitors that are permitted in CA. I don't have a clue.
Caution as there are bacteria that can grow in N2 and probably make some nasty compounds if the N2 is too wet. That means dry the line well before placing the dry N2.
http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com
RE: Crude oil pipeline abandonment
RE: Crude oil pipeline abandonment
I'm a little late jumping in, sorry. What I have found to be the most successful method in many regions throughout the world for buried pipelines, and offers the lowest cost for pipeline abandonment and the lowest environmental impact is the following:
Pig the pipeline sections using compressed air to drive two pigs with a Nitrogen buffer to de-inventory and clean each line.
Dispose of de-inventoried oil and wax - if possible through sales export for oil; flare or inject gas or water.
Run a set of batch pigs with corrosion inhibitor and biocide using compressed air through each section. Leave the sections filled with air at atmospheric pressure.
Seal the ends of each section with either grout or welded end caps.
Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website: www.oil-gas-consulting.com
RE: Crude oil pipeline abandonment