Carey John Naquin
Engineering at Est Ln, Youngsville, LA

6419018, Jul 16, 2002

Mar 17, 2000

09/527799

Carey J. Naquin - Youngsville LA
Terry L. Floyd - Lafayette LA

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Dallas TX

E21B 3600

166302, 166 57, 166304

A subsea subterranean well completion has a tubing string with a portion that extends through a region of the completion exposed to temperatures sufficiently low to potentially create wax and/or hydrate deposits within the tubing string during pre-production or shut-down periods. In order to inhibit or remove the formation of these deposits, the well completion is provided with a flow assurance system operative to create a flow of heating fluid which is recirculated through the space between the tubing string portion and the well casing/production riser structure in a manner causing the heating fluid to flow along the outer side of the tubing string portion without previously or subsequently traversing the interior of the tubing string. The heat absorbed by the tubing string inhibits or removes wax and/or hydrate formation in production fluid therein without the previous necessity of using a chemical injection system to inject plug-inhibiting chemicals into the interior of the tubing string. The flow assurance system may also be used to recirculate or otherwise flow other contact fluids, such as corrosion inhibiting fluids or insulation blanket fluids, against the outer side of the tubing string.