US4254559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for drying pipelines
Assignee: Hydrochem LLC
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Filing: 1980-02-19
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Granted: 1981-03-10
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Expires: 2000-02-19
Abstract
Abstract The interior surface of a pipeline is dried by sequentially passing through the pipeline (a) an aqueous cross-linked gelled pig, (b) a fluid mobility buffer comprising a non-crosslinked gelled ankanol of from one to three carbon atoms, (c) a dessicating amount of a liquid alkanol from one to three carbon atoms. For example, a pipeline was dried by sequentially passing through it (a) a borate cross-linked hydroxypropyl guar gum pig, (b) a fluid mobility buffer comprising methanol thickened with hydroxypropyl cellulose, and (c) methanol.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Purinton, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:27
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/04; B08B9/053; B08B9/055; B08B9/0555
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of drying the interior surface of a pipeline comprising sequentially passing through said pipeline: (a) an aqueous cross-linked gelled pig, (b) a fluid mobility buffer comprising a non-crosslinked gelled alkanol of from one to three carbon atoms, and (c) a dessicating amount of a liquid alkanol of from one to three carbon atoms.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of drying the interior surface of a pipeline comprising sequentially passing through said pipeline: (a) an aqueous cross-linked gelled pig, (b) a fluid mobility buffer comprising a non-crosslinked gelled alkanol of from one to three carbon atoms, and (c) a dessicating amount of a liquid alkanol of from one to three carbon atoms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined by claim 1 wherein (a) is a gelled pig comprising a galactomannan gum or derivative thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined by claim 2 wherein (a) is a gelled pig comprising a guar gum or hydroxypropyl guar gum crosslinked with borate, titanate or zirconium ions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined by claim 3 wherein (a) is a gelled pig comprising a hydroxypropyl guar gum crosslinked with borate ions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined by claim 1 wherein (b) is an alkanol thickened with hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl cellulose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined by claim 5 wherein (b) is an alkanol thickened with hydroxypropyl cellulose.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined by claim 1 wherein (c) is methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined by claim 1 wherein said alkanol in (b) and (c) is the same in each instance and is methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of drying the interior surface of a pipeline comprising sequentially passing through said pipeline: (a) an aqueous crosslinked gelled pig comprising an aqueous gelled guar gum or hydroxypropyl guar grum crosslinked with borate, titanate or zirconium ions, (b) a fluid mobility buffer comprising methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol thickened with hydroxypropyl cellulose, and (c) methanol, ethanol or isopropanol.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of drying the interior surface of a pipeline comprising sequentially passing through said pipeline: (a) an aqueous crosslinked gelled pig comprising an aqueous gelled guar gum or hydroxypropyl guar grum crosslinked with borate, titanate or zirconium ions, (b) a fluid mobility buffer comprising methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol thickened with hydroxypropyl cellulose, and (c) methanol, ethanol or isopropanol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined by claim 9 wherein (a) is an aqueous pig comprising a hydroxypropyl guar gum crosslinked with borate ions, (b) is methanol thickened with hydroxypropyl cellulose, and (c) is methanol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4003393A
Cited
US4210206A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-09 | 1984-09-08 | 1985-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-09 | 1988-09-08 | 1989-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-09 | 1992-09-08 | 1993-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |