US 12,297,948 B2
Systems and methods for thermal management of subsea conduits using an interconnecting conduit and valving arrangement
Antonio C.F Critsinelis, Kingwood, TX (US); Sid Mebarkia, Sugar Land, TX (US); Michelle A. Wise, Berkeley, CA (US); Yesudas J. Manimala, Katy, TX (US); William C. Hughes, Houston, TX (US); Steven W. Cochran, Houston, TX (US); Edgar Uribe, Houston, TX (US); and Jason D. Garcia, Bellaire, TX (US)
Assigned to CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., San Ramon, CA (US)
Filed by Chevron U.S.A. Inc., San Ramon, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/489,575.
Application 18/489,575 is a continuation of application No. 16/774,718, filed on Jan. 28, 2020, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2024/0044435 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. F16L 53/70 (2018.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); E21B 43/01 (2006.01); F16L 1/20 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 53/70 (2018.01) [E21B 41/0007 (2013.01); E21B 43/01 (2013.01); F16L 1/20 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for thermal management of a subsea conduit that carries oil and/or gas produced from a subsea well in a subsea production facility located on a seabed, comprising:
an interconnecting conduit circuit for carrying production fluids between subsea components, wherein the interconnecting conduit circuit comprises two ends for connecting to the subsea components, a first conduit section, and a second conduit section in parallel with respect to one another, wherein the first and second conduit sections have different heat transfer with respect to the surrounding seawater;
valving to selectively direct the production fluids from a first end of the two ends to a second end of the two ends through the first conduit section alone, through the second conduit section alone, or through both the first conduit section and the second conduit section in parallel, such that heat transfer from the production fluids to seawater surrounding the interconnecting conduit circuit can be controlled by adjusting the valving; and
a temperature sensor for continuously monitoring an internal fluid temperature of fluid in the interconnecting conduit circuit, wherein the valving is controlled responsive to a control system based on the internal fluid temperature detected by the temperature sensor and a predetermined fluid temperature.