Fiber Optic Vibration Sensor for Real-Time Deposit Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting deposits in flowlines, such as those used in the oil and gas industry, are inadequate as they often fail to accurately determine the location of hydrate formations in real-time, leading to delayed detection and increased costs for removal, especially in subsea production where deposits can move and blockages can occur far from their initial formation.
Innovation Solution
A distributed vibration sensor, specifically a fibre optic sensor using coherent Rayleigh noise and Brillouin backscatter, is deployed along the flowline to measure and analyze vibrations, allowing for real-time detection of deposit locations by monitoring changes in amplitude and frequency, and providing continuous temperature measurements to identify deposit formation before it causes significant blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure and flow measurements are used to detect deposits, then deposit detection is possible, but the measurement locations are discrete and separated by large distances, resulting in poor location precision
Solution Approach 1:
The flowline is divided into multiple discrete measurement sections, each equipped with its own vibration sensor. This segmentation allows continuous monitoring along the entire flowline length, transforming the discrete point measurements into distributed sectional measurements, thereby improving location precision without requiring a single complex continuous sensor system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional pressure and flow measurement systems with a vibration-based detection system. Vibration sensors detect mechanical vibrations caused by hydrate deposits, allowing for more precise and distributed measurement locations. This substitution enables better spatial resolution of deposit detection while simplifying the overall measurement architecture
2Loss of time
If hydrate deposits are allowed to continue forming, then the blockage removal cost increases significantly, but early detection requires additional sensing equipment and continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration sensors are installed in advance along the flowline before hydrate deposit formation occurs. The system continuously monitors for vibration signatures indicative of deposit formation, enabling early detection at the incipient stage. This preliminary positioning of detection capability allows intervention before blockages develop, avoiding the need for expensive and complex removal operations
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration-based detection system operates autonomously and continuously, self-monitoring the flowline conditions without requiring external intervention or complex processing systems. The sensors automatically detect vibration changes caused by hydrate formation and can trigger alarms or notifications, providing hands-free early warning that eliminates the need for constant human monitoring while keeping the system relatively simple
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 early and precise detection of deposit locations, allowing for timely intervention and reducing the cost and complexity of removing blockages by providing real-time monitoring and accurate positioning of deposits, thus preventing flow restrictions in subsea oil and gas production.
Implementation Method 1
measuring vibrations along the flowline by launching an optical interrogation signal into the optical fibre and detecting coherent Rayleigh noise and/or Brillouin backscatter
Implementation Method 2
measuring vibrations along the flowline by launching an optical interrogation signal into the optical fibre and detecting coherent Rayleigh noise and/or Brillouin backscatter
Implementation Method 3
measuring temperature along the flowline with the fibre optic sensor by measuring Raman backscattered Stokes and anti-Stokes optical signals from the optical interrogation signal
Data Source
AI summary
A method 2 of determining the location of deposits in a flowline comprises providing 4 a distributed vibration sensor along the flowline, measuring 6 vibrations along the flowline with the sensor and analyzing 8 the measured vibrations to determine the location of any deposits. The vibration measurements are made using a distributed fiber optic sensor provided on the flowline. The measurements are analyzed in real time to identify deposit formation and location within the flowline.