Patent ID: 8430169

Claim:
A method for managing hydrates in a subsea production system, the system having a production facility, an umbilical line for delivering displacement fluids from the production facility, at least one subsea production well, and a single production line for delivering produced fluids to the production facility, comprising: producing hydrocarbon fluids from the at least one subsea production well and through the single production line; shutting in the flow of produced fluids from the at least one subsea well and the production line; depressurizing the production line to substantially reduce a solution gas concentration in the produced hydrocarbon fluids; repressurizing the production line to urge any gas remaining in a free-gas phase in the produced fluids within the production line back into solution; and displacing production fluids within the production line by moving the displacement fluids from a service line within the umbilical line and into the production line, the displacement fluids comprising a hydrocarbon-based fluid having a low dosage hydrate inhibitor (LDHI).