The overall objective for the SATURN Cold Flow project is to demonstrate an innovative and ground-breaking technology solution which allows:
- subsea field developments based on ultra-long cold multiphase wellstream transport in uninsulated pipelines
- with no heating requirements and no chemical additives, and with
- very simplified subsea equipment and control procedures
The goal is achieved through a novel recirculation scheme for seed particles of gas hydrates and wax. These act as nucleators and growth controllers for precipitation phenomena and eliminate deposits and plugs. The end result of the process is an easily flowable slurry with inert particles suspended in the liquid phase. Elimination of inhibitor chemicals will allow much more environmentally friendly operation.