Crude oil pipeline abandonment

Depends on future possibilities.

Do you need to keep the pipeline in a high quality state? If so, you might run some cleaning pigs with water, or a solvent, followed by water, then N2 inerting, or a series of cleaning trains, if a clean ID is thought to be useful to have at some time in the future.

It is also possible to leave it only with water and a corrosion inhibitor.

Many unused pipelines are being converted to fiber optic carriers, so it could be an advantage if it was to be sold off for that purpose.

I'm looking at an existing "abandoned" pipeline in Southern California. We are looking more into potential impact from residual product or perhaps the abandonment process. I've got an overly conservative client and I'm trying to calm their fears. Thanks for your input.

You could get an anlaysis of what's on the wall now? Do yo have an idea of the make up of the crude that last ran in it? Check against any listed compounds to see if they're on the hazard substance lists.

Overly conservative might not jive with leaving water and corrosion inhibitor inside, in which case just leave it empty, or full of low pressure dry N2 if you want to preserve. Check up on the corrosion inhibitors that are permitted in CA. I don't have a clue.

Caution as there are bacteria that can grow in N2 and probably make some nasty compounds if the N2 is too wet. That means dry the line well before placing the dry N2.

We don't currently have legal access to the pipe.

ctmtwilliams

I'm a little late jumping in, sorry. What I have found to be the most successful method in many regions throughout the world for buried pipelines, and offers the lowest cost for pipeline abandonment and the lowest environmental impact is the following:

Pig the pipeline sections using compressed air to drive two pigs with a Nitrogen buffer to de-inventory and clean each line.

Dispose of de-inventoried oil and wax - if possible through sales export for oil; flare or inject gas or water.

Run a set of batch pigs with corrosion inhibitor and biocide using compressed air through each section. Leave the sections filled with air at atmospheric pressure.

Seal the ends of each section with either grout or welded end caps.


Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website:

Greg, thanks for the reply. Your input confirms what I have found from a couple of other sources. The project has moved ahead.