Patent ID: 7721807
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for managing hydrates in a subsea production system, the system having at least one producing subsea well, a jumper for delivering produced fluids from the subsea well to a manifold, a single production line connected to a single production sled for delivering all of the produced fluids to a production gathering facility, and an umbilical for delivering chemicals to the manifold, the method comprising the steps of: shutting in the flow of produced fluids from the at least one producing subsea well and through the single production sled and the single production line; pumping a displacement fluid into the umbilical through a chemical injection tubing; pumping the displacement fluid through the chemical injection tubing, through the manifold, and into the single production line through the single production sled; and pumping the displacement fluid through the manifold and into the single production sled directly to the single production line so as to displace the produced fluids before hydrate formation begins.