US3791395A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Restarting flow of gelled oil
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1972-12-15
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-12-15
Abstract
Abstract The startup yield pressure of a segment of standing oil which has cooled below its pour point is reduced by applying reoccurring pressure pulses or cycles to the gelled oil at a pressure such that portions of the gelled oil are progressively shear degraded. The pressure pulses are continued until the flow resistance of the gelled oil has been degraded enough to enable renewal of oil flow at a higher continuous startup pump flow rate for a given pressure than could otherwise be obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 H Dunlap
- 👤 R Styring
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:32
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for renewing oil flow through a section of a pipeline in which oil flow has been temporarily shut off and in which quiescent oil has gelled, which method comprises applying a first pressure pulse at a location in said pipeline to gelled oil in said section, said first pressure pulse being at a peak pressure level such that part of said gelled oil is shear degraded thereby decreasing the flow resistance of said gelled oil, applying a second pressure pulse at said location before the previously degraded gelled oil rebuilds its original flow resistance, said second pressure pulse being at a peak pressure level and duration such that part of said gelled oil is shear degraded thereby further decreasing the flow resistance of said gelled oil, applying subsequent pressure pulses at said location before the previously degraded gelled oil rebuilds its original flow resistance at peak pressure levels and durations such that the flow resistance of said gelled oil is progressively shear degraded until enough of the gelled oil in said section has been degraded to enable renewal of oil flow through said section at a continuous startup pump flow rate for a given pressure substantially larger than the normal continuous startup pump flow rate at said pressure, and renewing liquid oil flow through said section of said pipeline before the shear degraded gelled oil rebuilds its original flow resistance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for renewing oil flow through a section of a pipeline in which oil flow has been temporarily shut off and in which quiescent oil has gelled, which method comprises applying a first pressure pulse at a location in said pipeline to gelled oil in said section, said first pressure pulse being at a peak pressure level such that part of said gelled oil is shear degraded thereby decreasing the flow resistance of said gelled oil, applying a second pressure pulse at said location before the previously degraded gelled oil rebuilds its original flow resistance, said second pressure pulse being at a peak pressure level and duration such that part of said gelled oil is shear degraded thereby further decreasing the flow resistance of said gelled oil, applying subsequent pressure pulses at said location before the previously degraded gelled oil rebuilds its original flow resistance at peak pressure levels and durations such that the flow resistance of said gelled oil is progressively shear degraded until enough of the gelled oil in said section has been degraded to enable renewal of oil flow through said section at a continuous startup pump flow rate for a given pressure substantially larger than the normal continuous startup pump flow rate at said pressure, and renewing liquid oil flow through said section of said pipeline before the shear degraded gelled oil rebuilds its original flow resistance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a pressure at least one-fourth as great as the largest pressure rise occurring during application of the second and subsequent pressure pulses is maintained at said location throughout the time of application of said second and subsequent pressure pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
ThE method of claim 3 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 1 wherein during the first pressure pulse the flow resistance of a first incremental portion of the gelled oil in said section is degraded, and during the second pressure pulse the flow resistance of a second incremental portion of the gelled oil is degraded, said second incremental portion being further from said location than said first incremental portion, and during each of the subsequent pressure pulses the flow resistance of an additional incremental portion of the gelled oil is degraded, each of said additional incremental portions being progressively further from said location than the previously degraded incremental portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5 wherein a pressure at least one-fourth as great as the largest pressure rise occurring during application of the second and subsequent pressure pulses is maintained at said location throughout the time of application of said second and subsequent pressure pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for renewing oil flow through a section of a pipeline in which oil flow has been temporarily shut off and in which quiescent oil has gelled, which method comprises a. injecting fluid at a location into said section while monitoring the injection flow rate until a first pipeline volume of fluid has been injected and a suitable pressure level is reached, said suitable pressure level being high enough to cause a part of said gelled oil to shear degrade thereby decreasing the flow resistance of said gelled oil; b. releasing at least a portion of said suitable pressure and backflowing fluid toward said location; c. reinjecting fluid at said location while monitoring the injection flow rate until a second pipeline volume of fluid has been injected and a second suitable pressure level is reached, said second pressure level being high enough to cause a part of said gelled oil to shear degrade thereby further decreasing the flow resistance of said gelled oil; d. releasing at least a portion of said second pressure and backflowing fluid toward said location; e. repeating steps c and d while progressively injecting pipeline volumes of fluid at pressures high enough to degrade the flow resistance of said gelled oil until oil flow through said section may be renewed at a continuous startup pump flow rate for a given startup pressure substantially larger than the normal continuous startup pump flow rate at said startup pressure; and f. renewing liquid oil flow through said section of said pipeline.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for renewing oil flow through a section of a pipeline in which oil flow has been temporarily shut off and in which quiescent oil has gelled, which method comprises a. injecting fluid at a location into said section while monitoring the injection flow rate until a first pipeline volume of fluid has been injected and a suitable pressure level is reached, said suitable pressure level being high enough to cause a part of said gelled oil to shear degrade thereby decreasing the flow resistance of said gelled oil; b. releasing at least a portion of said suitable pressure and backflowing fluid toward said location; c. reinjecting fluid at said location while monitoring the injection flow rate until a second pipeline volume of fluid has been injected and a second suitable pressure level is reached, said second pressure level being high enough to cause a part of said gelled oil to shear degrade thereby further decreasing the flow resistance of said gelled oil; d. releasing at least a portion of said second pressure and backflowing fluid toward said location; e. repeating steps c and d while progressively injecting pipeline volumes of fluid at pressures high enough to degrade the flow resistance of said gelled oil until oil flow through said section may be renewed at a continuous startup pump flow rate for a given startup pressure substantially larger than the normal continuous startup pump flow rate at said startup pressure; and f. renewing liquid oil flow through said section of said pipeline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9 wherein pressure rises occur at said location during injection of fluid in steps c and e and a pressure at least one-fourth as great as the largest of said pressure rises is maintained at said location throughout the time of steps b and e.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 9 wherein during step a the flow resistance of a first incremental portion of the gelled oil in said section is degraded, and during step c the flow resistance of a second incremental portion of the gelled oil is degraded, said second incremental portion being further from said location than said first incremental portion, and during step e the flow resistance of additional incremental portions of the gelled oil are degraded with each additional incremental portion being further from said location than the previously degraded incremental portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 13 wherein pressure rises oCcur at said location during injection of fluid in steps c and e and a pressure at least one-fourth as great as the largest of said pressure rises is maintained at said location throughout the time of steps b through e.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the pipeline volumes of fluid injected in step e are greater than the second pipeline volume of fluid injected in step c, and each succeeding pipeline volume of injected fluid is greater than the next preceding pipeline volume of injected fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 17 wherein pressure rises occur at said location during injection of fluid in steps c and e and a pressure at least one-fourth as great as the largest of said pressure rises is maintained at said location throughout the time of steps b through e.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said section of said pipeline is at least 5 miles long.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2958333A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |