Bore and Annulus Sensor Monitoring for Pipe Breach Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pipeline systems face operational inefficiencies and reliability issues due to breaches in pipe segments, which lead to fluid loss and contamination, as existing monitoring technologies struggle to accurately detect and locate breaches in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring apparatus comprising bore sensors and annulus sensors connected to a control system that determines breach presence by analyzing fluid parameters within the pipe bore and tubing annulus, using algorithms to filter noise and adaptively adjust breach detection patterns, and cross-checking integrity states to enhance accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bore sensors and annulus sensors are used to detect breaches, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is divided into separate bore sensors and annulus sensors, each monitoring different fluid compartments. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each sensor type while collectively improving breach detection accuracy through multiple measurement points and failure modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The annulus fluid acts as an intermediary medium between the bore fluid and the external environment. By monitoring the annulus compartment, the system indirectly detects breaches in the tubing wall without requiring direct contact sensors in the bore, reducing complexity while maintaining detection capability.
2Reliability
If cross-checking integrity states is implemented, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors both bore and annulus integrity states in advance, maintaining ready-to-use data for immediate comparison. This preliminary continuous monitoring eliminates the need for time-consuming on-demand measurements, allowing rapid cross-checking when breaches occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-checking mechanism provides continuous feedback by comparing integrity states from both sensor systems. When discrepancies are detected, the system immediately identifies potential breaches, creating a rapid feedback loop that improves reliability without significant time delay.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for implementing a system that includes a pipe segment and a monitoring apparatus. The pipe segment includes tubing that defines a pipe bore and a fluid conduit within a tubing annulus of the pipe segment. The monitoring apparatus includes a plurality of bore sensors fluidly connected to the pipe bore of the pipe segment, an annulus sensor fluidly connected to the fluid conduit defined within the tubing annulus of the pipe segment, and a control sub-system. The control sub-system determines whether a breach is present in the tubing of the pipe segment based at least in part on first sensor data determined by the bore sensors to be indicative of a bore fluid parameter present within the pipe bore of the pipe segment and second sensor data determined by the annulus sensor to be indicative of an annulus fluid parameter present within the tubing annulus of the pipe segment.