Method and system for reducing heat loss from subsea structures

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for using a thermal insulating paint in a subsea environment. In accordance with one embodiment of the present technique, the thermal insulating paint may be applied to a casing for use in a subsea mineral extraction system. In another embodiment, a surface-rated thermal insulating paint may be applied to any component for use in a subsea mineral extraction system. The insulated component may be protected from the subsea environment to prevent damage to the surface-rated thermal insulating paint. For example, protecting the component may include burying it in cement or concrete, encasing it in another subsea structure or enclosure, or applying a protective sealant over the surface-rated thermal insulating paint.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a surface-rated insulation not rated for a subsea environment or a corrosive environment; and   a protective structure configured to protect the surface-rated insulation from the subsea environment or the corrosive environment.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface-rated insulation is susceptible to break down or reduced effectiveness in the subsea environment or the corrosive environment. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the surface-rated insulation is susceptible to seawater in the subsea environment, and the protective structure blocks seawater from contacting the surface-rated insulation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the surface- rated insulation is susceptible to oil, gas, or chemicals in the corrosive environment, and the protective structure blocks the oil, gas, or chemicals from contacting the surface-rated insulation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface-rated insulation comprises a surface-rated insulative paint. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface rated insulation comprises highly porous particles obtained by drying a sol-gel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a coating of the surface-rated insulation has a thickness of less than 50 mils. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a coating of the surface-rated insulation has a thickness of less than 30 mils. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a coating of the surface-rated insulation has a thickness of less than 10 mils. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface-rated insulation is configured to resist moisture accumulation along a surface covered by the surface-rated insulation. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface-rated insulation excludes foam insulation. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface-rated insulation excludes insulation not configured to support a load. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protective structure comprises a subsea-rated sealant. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the subsea-rated sealant comprises a subsea-rated paint. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protective structure comprises concrete or cement. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protective structure comprises a tubing or an enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a component configured to be deployed in the subsea environment or the corrosive environment, wherein at least a portion of the component is configured to be covered by the surface-rated insulation that is protected by the protective structure. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the component is part of a subsea hydrocarbon system. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , comprising a wellhead, a Christmas tree, a valve, a tubing, a manifold, a hanger, a running tool, a production string, a base, a pile, or combination thereof, coupled to or including the component. 
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising:
 an insulative paint susceptible to break down or reduced effectiveness in a subsea environment or a corrosive environment; and   a protective structure configured to protect the insulative paint from the subsea environment or the corrosive environment.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , comprising a component configured to be deployed in the subsea environment or the corrosive environment, wherein at least a portion of the component is configured to be covered by the insulative paint that is protected by the protective structure. 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 insulating a component with an insulation not rated for a subsea environment or a corrosive environment; and   protecting the insulation from the subsea environment or the corrosive environment via a protective structure.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein insulating the component with the insulation comprises coating a surface of the component with an insulative paint that is susceptible to break down or reduced effectiveness in the subsea environment or the corrosive environment. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein protecting the insulation comprises blocking exposure of the insulation to the subsea environment or the corrosive environment with a subsea-rated sealant, concrete, cement, a tubing, an enclosure, a seafloor, or a combination thereof.