Surface · Flow Assurance
Insulation & Heat Tracing
Thermal insulation around a line, often with an electric or steam tracer running along it, to keep the produced fluid warm.
What it does
Keeps the fluid warm so wax does not deposit and gas stays out of hydrate conditions. Heat tracing is used together with thermal insulation.
Basics
| Tracing | Electric or steam |
| Used with | Thermal insulation |
| Protects against | Wax deposition and hydrates |
Common failures
- A stretch where the tracer or the insulation is out of service cools down and wax or hydrates form there
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Line waxes up or plugs in only one stretch
- Likely cause
- Heat lost in that stretch
- What to check
- Check the tracer and the insulation in that section