HYDROCARBON FLUID PIPELINE INCLUDING RF HEATING STATION AND RELATED METHODS

• Main Authors: JACKSON, RONALD EDWARD, JR, OTTOMANELLI, MICHAEL JOSEPH, BLUE, MARK ERNEST, GEORGE, DONALD S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 12.09.2013
• Subjects: BLASTING; ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may include pipeline segments connected together in end-to-end relation between first and second spaced apart geographic locations and configured to carry hydrocarbon fluid there through. The hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may also include a radio frequency (RF) heating station that may include an RF source and an RF heater between adjacent pipeline segments of the plurality thereof. The RF heater may include an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the adjacent pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler and connected to the RF source to heat the hydrocarbon fluid.