Patent ID: 9732589
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: H05B

Claim:
1. A system for integrating power distribution for subsea boosting and direct electrical heating of at least one subsea flowline, comprising: a. a subsea power cable located in a subsea environment electrically connected to at least one power generator at a topsides location; b. a subsea switchgear module comprising one or more circuit breakers within a switchgear housing wherein the subsea switchgear module receives power from the subsea power cable; c. a plurality of subsea adjustable speed drives electrically connected to the subsea switchgear module; d. at least one pump motor electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of subsea adjustable speed drives; e. at least one subsea pressure boosting pump electrically connected to the at least one pump motor; f. at least one capacitor bank electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of subsea adjustable speed drives; g. at least one subsea direct electrical heating cable electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of subsea adjustable speed drives in series with the at least one capacitor bank and in contact with the at least one subsea flowline; h. at least one temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature in at least one location in the at least one subsea flowline; and i. at least one process controller in communication with the at least one temperature sensor for determining whether the temperature in the at least one location is below a desired value; and if the temperature in the at least one location is below the desired value, for sending a signal to a recycle valve for controlling flow in a recycle loop at the at least one subsea pressure boosting pump to increase an amount of recycled produced hydrocarbon circulating in the recycle loop; wherein a portion of an enemy required to maintain a recycle flow of the recycled produced hydrocarbon circulating in the recycle loop is converted to heat such that the heat increases a temperature of produced hydrocarbons leaving the at least one subsea pressure boosting pump.