Detecting Liquid Pools in Hydrocarbon Pipelines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Detecting and quantifying liquid pools in hydrocarbon fluid pipelines is challenging due to difficulties in predicting possible locations and estimating the amount of liquid condensate, which can reduce production and transportation efficiency and lead to corrosion.
Innovation Solution
The use of existing pressure-inducing devices and pressure transducers to generate and analyze pressure waves, allowing for the detection of liquid pooling without intrusive methods, by creating a pressure wave that interacts with liquid pooling volumes and analyzing the reflections to estimate location and volume using inverse modeling and machine-learning algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intrusive methods are used to detect liquid pooling, then detection accuracy is improved, but pipeline operations are disrupted and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pressure waves as an intermediary to detect liquid pooling indirectly. Instead of placing sensors directly in the liquid or using intrusive probes, pressure waves are generated by normal pipeline operations and their reflections are analyzed to detect liquid pools, thus avoiding pipeline disruption while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical intrusion detection systems with acoustic/pressure wave-based detection. By analyzing pressure wave reflections from liquid pools using existing pipeline pressure data, the system achieves accurate detection without mechanical sensors in the liquid stream, reducing overall system complexity
2Productivity
If traditional pressure monitoring is used, then pipeline operation continuity is maintained, but liquid pooling detection capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by analyzing reflections of pressure waves generated during normal pipeline operations. The pressure transducers continuously monitor pressure variations, and when reflections indicating liquid pools are detected, this information feeds back to identify pooling locations without interrupting pipeline flow, thus maintaining productivity while enabling detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of liquid pooling conditions by continuously analyzing pressure wave reflections during normal operations. By detecting pooling early through pressure variations before they cause significant problems, the system maintains pipeline continuity while providing early warning capability
3Productivity
If liquid pooling is not detected, then pipeline operations continue uninterrupted, but production efficiency decreases and corrosion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the pipeline system to self-diagnose liquid pooling conditions using its own operational pressure data. By analyzing pressure wave reflections from the pipeline's natural pressure variations, the system identifies pooling locations and volumes, allowing for timely remediation that maintains hydrocarbon flow rates and prevents corrosion without requiring external intervention
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables non-invasive detection and quantification of liquid pools, allowing for appropriate remedial actions to increase hydrocarbon flow rates and prevent corrosion, thereby ensuring uninterrupted pipeline operations.
Implementation Method 1
A pressure wave can be generated by a pressure-inducing device in line with the hydrocarbon pipeline
Implementation Method 2
The pressure-inducing device can have a pre-determined operation profile, which can be compared against a recorded pressure that is the reflection of the pressure wave against the liquid pooling
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Pressure-inducing devices and pressure transducers can be used to detect and quantify liquid pools in hydrocarbon fluid pipelines. Pressure fluctuations can be detected by a pressure transducer, where the pressure fluctuations are the response of a pressure-inducing device outputting a pressure signal in a pipe carrying hydrocarbons. Variation in a pipe diameter caused by pooling or deposition can be estimated using an inverse model. The pooling or depositions can be classified by applying a machine-learning model to the pressure fluctuations. The variation in pipe diameter can be converted to an equivalent liquid volume for pooling locations. A pooling or deposition location and volume can be output and used for determining an action on the pipe to remove the pooling or deposition.