NGL Quality Analytics for Real-Time Prediction and Root-Cause Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) systems lack real-time monitoring and predictive capabilities for critical quality performance parameters, leading to suboptimal efficiency and hinder proactive corrective actions among producers, intermediate plants, and consumers.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for digitalized analytics and predictive solutions that monitor and predict NGL quality parameters in real-time, using graphical user interfaces and alert systems to ensure compliance, issue notifications, and perform corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time monitoring and predictive capabilities are implemented for NGL quality parameters, then system efficiency and compliance are improved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual quality monitoring and predictive analysis mechanisms with a digitalized analytics system that uses computational algorithms and software-based processing. This substitution of mechanical/manual systems with digital/intelligent systems enables automated real-time monitoring and predictive capabilities while managing complexity through software-based solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary digitalized analytics platform that sits between the NGL production systems and the quality compliance requirements. This intermediary system processes raw data, performs predictive analytics, and generates compliance reports, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while enhancing reliability through specialized intermediate processing layers.
2Productivity
If manual monitoring and reactive corrective actions are used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action through predictive analytics that identify potential quality deviations before they occur. The system forecasts future quality parameters based on current trends and operational data, enabling proactive corrective actions to be taken in advance, thereby improving productivity and response time while managing complexity through predictive rather than reactive approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes continuous feedback loops where real-time monitoring data is fed into predictive analytics models, which then generate recommendations for corrective actions. This feedback mechanism automates the monitoring-response cycle, improving productivity by eliminating manual intervention delays while managing complexity through systematic feedback processing rather than ad-hoc manual analysis.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive real-time data collection from all NGL network elements is performed, then measurement precision and predictive accuracy are improved, but loss of information and data processing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by selectively pulling out and focusing on the most critical quality parameters and predictive indicators from the comprehensive data set. Rather than processing all available data equally, the system extracts and prioritizes key parameters that have the greatest impact on quality compliance and predictive accuracy, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing data processing burden by eliminating redundant information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different levels of data collection and processing intensity to different NGL network elements based on their specific characteristics and risk profiles. Critical production facilities receive comprehensive real-time monitoring with high measurement precision, while less critical elements use reduced monitoring schemes, thereby optimizing the balance between measurement accuracy and information loss across the entire network.
Data Source
AI summary
A Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) quality digitalized analytics and predictive solution computer-implemented method includes extracting, automatically and in real-time as measured data from elements of a natural gas liquids (NGL) network, values for operating parameters and quality parameters. The measured data is compared against maximum limits. If the comparison indicates the measured data is within limit: 1) normal operations continue and 2) performance is reported. If the comparison is not within limit: 1) an alert notification is issued; 2) an investigation is conducted via trending and root-cause analysis; and 3) corrective and mitigation actions are performed.