Method of cleaning pipeline

1. A method of cleaning a pipeline comprising:

selecting a colloidal particle dispersion having inorganic nanoparticles with an average particle size of from 500 nm or less that exhibit properties of Brownian motion that facilitate penetration of solid deposits on interior surfaces of a pipeline;

introducing a treatment composition comprising the colloidal particle dispersion into an interior of a pipeline to be cleaned;

passing a pig or body through the pipeline to spread the composition upon surfaces of the interior of the pipeline; and

removing the composition and materials adhering to the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline to facilitate cleaning of the pipeline.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the composition is allowed to reside upon the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline for a selected period of time; and wherein

removing the composition and materials adhering to the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline comprises passing a second pig or body through the pipeline to remove the composition and materials adhering to the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline to facilitate cleaning of the pipeline.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic particles are silica nanoparticles.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the silica nanoparticles are functionalized with hydrophilic monomers and/or a mixture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size of from 300 nm or less.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size of from 0.1 nm to 300 nm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the pipeline comprises at least one of a gas pipeline and a liquid petroleum pipeline.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the composition is spread upon surfaces of the interior of the pipeline in a thickness of from 0.1 mil to 10 mils.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the composition is allowed to reside upon the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline for 10 minutes or more.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the treatment composition has a pH of from 6 to 7.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the removed materials comprise at least one of corrosion byproducts, scale, mineral deposits, sand, silica, hydrocarbons, paraffins, asphaltenes, metal oxides, iron oxides, solids, biofilm, and water.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles are present in the treatment composition in an amount of from 0.001 wt. % to 60 wt. % by total weight of the treatment composition.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles are present in the treatment composition in an amount of from 0.01 wt. % to 10 wt. % inorganic nanoparticles by total weight of the treatment composition.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a corrosion inhibitor to the interior surfaces of the pipeline after the composition and materials adhering to the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline are removed.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the treatment composition further comprises at least one of a surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, an ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a drying agent, a glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glutaraldehyde, a bacteria-reducing agent, a biocide, a pH adjuster, water, an alcohol, a solvent, a dispersant, a non-terpene oil-based moiety, a terpene, a terpenoid, and limonine.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the treatment composition is free of any tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (THPC), tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS), methanol and ethanol.

17. A method of cleaning gas or liquid petroleum pipeline comprising:

selecting a colloidal particle dispersion having inorganic nanoparticles with an average particle size of from 300 nm or less that exhibit properties of Brownian motion that facilitate penetration of solid deposits on interior surfaces of a pipeline;

introducing a treatment composition comprising the colloidal particle dispersion, a surfactant, and a drying agent into an interior of a pipeline to be cleaned;

passing a first pig or body through the pipeline to spread the composition upon surfaces of the interior of the pipeline at a thickness of from 0.1 mil to 10 mils; and

performing at least one of A) and B), wherein:

A) comprises removing the composition and materials adhering to the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline to facilitate cleaning of the pipeline with the same first pig or body as the first pig or body passes through the pipeline; and

B) comprises allowing the composition to reside upon the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline for a selected period of time of 10 minutes or more; and then passing a second pig or body through the pipeline to remove the composition and materials adhering to the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline to facilitate cleaning of the pipeline; and wherein

the removed materials comprise at least one of corrosion byproducts, scale, mineral deposits, sand, silica, hydrocarbons, paraffins, asphaltenes, metal oxides, iron oxides, solids, biofilm, and water.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles are present in the treatment composition in an amount of from 0.001 wt. % to 60 wt. % by total weight of the treatment composition.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles are present in the treatment composition in an amount of from 0.01 wt. % to 10 wt. % inorganic nanoparticles by total weight of the treatment composition.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

applying a corrosion inhibitor to the interior surfaces of the pipeline after the composition and materials adhering to the surfaces of the interior of the pipeline are removed.