Patent ID: 8869880
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: B01D,B08B,E21B,F02M

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for heating hydrates at an underwater location, comprising: a housing selectively disposed on a sea floor above a wellbore and defining an inner chamber and one or more openings; one or more heaters operably coupled to and positioned within the inner chamber of the housing for heating materials therein and that each comprise a heating element that projects into the inner chamber and that operates at a voltage of at least about 2 kV when the housing is on the sea floor; a controller operably coupled to the heaters for monitoring and controlling an operation of the heaters; and one or more sensors operably coupled to the controller and positioned within the inner chamber of the housing for sensing one or more operating conditions within the inner chamber of the housing; wherein the heaters and the housing are adapted to operate in an underwater environment in depths exceeding about 100 meters.