Use fresh water or water with sufficiently reduced salinity to trigger burst of bacterial cell wall due to osmotic pressure gradient. Combine the freshwater with conventional biocide treatment and pigging to increase the likelihood of killing the bacteria responsible for reservoir souring.

Use fresh water or water with sufficiently reduced salinity to trigger burst of bacterial cell wall due to osmotic pressure gradient. Combine the freshwater with conventional biocide treatment and pigging to increase the likelihood of killing the bacteria responsible for reservoir souring.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for displacing fluid from a pipe. The method includes engaging a fluid-displacement system with the pipe. A displacement agent is pumped into the pipe via the fluid-displacement system. Fluid present within the pipe is displaced by the displacement agent. The pipe is manipulated in a desired manner.

A system and method for monitoring a fluidized slug in a piping conduit. The system includes a first sensor assembly positioned at a first location of the piping conduit, a second sensor assembly positioned at a second location of the piping conduit, the second location being downstream from the first location, and a monitoring controller. The monitoring controller is coupled to the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly. The monitoring controller is configured to receive first data from the first sensor assembly and second data from the second sensor assembly. The first data indicates a first characteristic of the fluidized slug within the piping conduit and the second data indicates a second characteristic of the fluidized slug within the piping conduit. The monitoring controller then generates an indication of a slug characteristic based on the first data and the second data.

In a tube cleaning system and method, multiple steps can be run with a single pass by using a combination pig train. For example, an initial combination pig train may include a plurality of bristle pigs and polymer trailing pigs with a cleaning solution between each pair. One example is a first leading bristle pig and a first trailing polymer pig containing a first slug of caustic cleaning solution followed by a second bristle pig and second polymer trailing pig containing a second slug of caustic cleaning solution. Another example is a leading bristle pig, a middle bristle pig, and a trailing polymer pig with a cleaning composition disposed between the leading and middle bristle pigs and a cleaning composition disposed between the middle bristle pig and the trailing pig. Such combination pig trains are moved through the tube to be cleaned in a single pass to achieve two cleaning steps.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for displacing fluid from a pipe. The method includes engaging a fluid-displacement system with the pipe. A displacement agent is pumped into the pipe via the fluid-displacement system. Fluid present within the pipe is displaced by the displacement agent. The pipe is manipulated in a desired manner.

A method for detecting leaks in pipelines, particularly those transporting natural gas is disclosed. Leak sensitive particles are added either as soluble particles or in a nitrogen atmosphere which will transmit signals to an appropriate sensor when a leak condition is detected. The sensors can be located along the length of the pipeline or in a pig that will be transported through the pipeline along with the leak sensitive particles.

The invention relates to a gel composition comprising 0.6 to 2.5 weight percent of guar gum, 0.01 to 0.05 weight percent of boric acid, 0.003 to 0.007 weight percent of a base, 2.5 to 4.5 weight percent of a short carbon chain alcohol, optionally 0.01 to 0.5 weight percent of additives and the necessary amount of water to reach 100% weight. The invention covers a method for producing the gel composition and the use thereof.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for displacing fluid from a pipe. The method includes engaging a fluid-displacement system with the pipe. A displacement agent is pumped into the pipe via the fluid-displacement system. Fluid present within the pipe is displaced by the displacement agent. The pipe is manipulated in a desired manner.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for displacing fluid from a pipe. The method includes engaging a fluid-displacement system with the pipe. A displacement agent is pumped into the pipe via the fluid-displacement system. Fluid present within the pipe is displaced by the displacement agent. The pipe is manipulated in a desired manner.