Method for thermoacoustic localization of solid segregations

A method and system for detecting the presence of a blockage within a subsea pipe segment (11) includes a submersible and remotely-operated vehicle (8) having a laser emitting element (9) and a hydrophone (13). The vehicle is positioned proximal to a subsea pipe segment of interest, and the laser emitting element is activated to irradiate a laser target (12) on an exterior portion of the pipe segment. The laser light is converted to heat energy, and heat is conducted from the laser target across the pipe wall to a portion of the bore of the pipe segment. Acoustic signals (14) are produced as a result, of one of the disassociation of gas from a portion of the solid deposit proximal to the laser target, stress cracks induced in the solid deposit and physical changes of state and physical displacement occurring within the blockage. The acoustic signals are detected by the hydrophone on the vehicle.