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EP-4741962-A1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZATION OF A PETROLEUM DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

EP4741962A1EP 4741962 A1EP4741962 A1EP 4741962A1EP-4741962-A1

Abstract

A method for operating a pipeline system includes obtaining sensor data of a gas in the pipeline system from sensors of a sensing unit. The method also includes performing a real-time and closed loop control scheme using the sensor data and a material model of the gas to determine one or more control decisions. The method also includes operating one or more controllable pipeline elements to adjust a temperature, a pressure, a flow rate, or a composition of the gas according to the one or more control decisions.

Inventors

  • OTTO, Ross Allen

Assignees

  • SENSIA LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20211115

Claims (15)

  1. A method for optimizing a pipeline characterized by : determining a mode of optimization and operation for the pipeline; obtaining an objective function quantifying a performance variable as a function of one or more control decisions of the pipeline over a future time horizon; optimizing the objective function subject to one or more constraints to determine control decisions for the pipeline that result in an optimal value of the performance variable; and operating equipment of the pipeline according to the control decisions.
  2. The method of Claim 1, further characterized in that the mode of optimization comprises at least one of: an emissions or energy consumption mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is energy consumption and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the performance variable over the future time horizon; a monetary cost mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is monetary cost and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the monetary cost over the future time horizon; or a throughput mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is a delivered amount of product and optimizing the objective function comprises maximizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a maximum value of delivered amount of product over the future time horizon.
  3. The method of Claim 1, further characterized in the method is performed for an entirety of the pipeline to determine control decisions for the entirety of the pipeline.
  4. The method of Claim 1, further characterized in the method is performed for a station of the pipeline to determine control decisions for the station of the pipeline.
  5. The method of Claim 1, further characterized in the objective function comprises a model of a station of the pipeline, wherein the station of the pipeline comprises a plurality of pumps arranged in series or parallel configured to pump a product through the pipeline, wherein the model of the station predicts one or more operational parameters of the station as a function of the control decisions.
  6. The method of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, further characterized in the control decisions are for each timestep of the future time horizon, wherein the control decisions comprise at least one of a setpoint for one or more pumps of the pipeline, an amount of drag reducing agent (DRA) to add to the pipeline, or an amount of energy to purchase from a utility provider to operate the pipeline.
  7. The method of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, further characterized in the pipeline is configured to ship any of a liquid product, a gas product, or a product including a mixture of liquid and gas.
  8. The method of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, further characterized in the control decisions comprise an amount and type of additive to add to a product of the pipeline.
  9. A controller for a pipeline comprising a plurality of pipeline stations, each pipeline station comprising at least one pump or compressor; a pipe connecting the plurality of pipeline stations, characterized by : a processor configured to: determine a mode of optimization and operation for the pipeline; obtain an objective function quantifying a performance variable as a function of one or more control decisions of the pipeline over a future time horizon; optimize the objective function subject to one or more constraints to determine control decisions for the pipeline that result in an optimal value of the performance variable; and operate the at least pump or compressor of at least one of the plurality of pipeline stations of the pipeline according to the control decisions.
  10. The pipeline of Claim 9, further characterized in the mode of optimization comprises at least one of: an emissions or energy consumption mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is energy consumption and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the performance variable over the future time horizon; a monetary cost mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is monetary cost and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the monetary cost over the future time horizon; or a throughput mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is a delivered amount of product and optimizing the objective function comprises maximizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a maximum value of delivered amount of product over the future time horizon.
  11. The pipeline of Claim 9, further characterized in the controller is configured to optimize the objective function for an entirety of the pipeline to determine control decisions for the entirety of the pipeline and the pipeline is configured to ship any of a liquid product, a gas product, or a product including a mixture of liquid and gas.
  12. The pipeline of Claim 9, 10, or 11, further characterized in the controller is configured to optimize the objective function for one of the plurality of pipeline stations of the pipeline to determine control decisions for the one of the plurality of pipeline stations of the pipeline.
  13. The pipeline of Claim 9, 10, or 11, further characterized in the objective function comprises a model of at least one of the plurality of pipeline stations of the pipeline, wherein at least one pipeline station of the pipeline comprises a plurality of pumps arranged in series or parallel configured to pump a product through the pipeline, wherein the model of the pipeline station predicts one or more operational parameters of the station as a function of the control decisions.
  14. The pipeline of Claim 9, 10, or 11, further characterized in the control decisions are for each timestep of the future time horizon, wherein the control decisions comprise at least one of a setpoint for one or more pumps of the pipeline, an amount of drag reducing agent (DRA) to add to the pipeline, or an amount of energy to purchase from a utility provider to operate the pipeline.
  15. The pipeline of Claim 9, 10, or 11, further characterized in the control decisions comprise an amount and type of additive to add to a product of the pipeline.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 17/511,358, filed October 26, 2021, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/114,407, filed November 16, 2020, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates to control systems or schema for a petroleum system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to closed loop control systems or schema for a petroleum gas system including but not limited to a natural gas system, a crude oil system, a gasoline system, and other mixtures of oil and gas products. SUMMARY One implementation of the present disclosure is a method for operating a pipeline system, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method includes obtaining sensor data of a gas in the pipeline system from sensors of a sensing unit. In some embodiments, the method also includes performing a real-time and closed loop control scheme using the sensor data and a material model of the gas to determine one or more control decisions. In some embodiments, the method includes operating one or more controllable pipeline elements to adjust a temperature, a pressure, a flow rate, or a composition of the gas according to the one or more control decisions. In some embodiments, the sensor data includes any of the temperature of the gas, the pressure of the gas, the flow rate of the gas, and the composition of the gas. In some embodiments, the sensors of the sensing unit includes any of a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the gas, a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the gas, a flow meter configured to measure the flow rate of the gas, and any of a gas chromatograph, laser interferometer, a water sensor, a density sensor, or a hydrogen sulfide sensor configured to measure the composition of the gas. In some embodiments, the sensor data is obtained from multiple sensing units positioned about the pipeline system. In some embodiments, the material model is configured to estimate at least one of a cricondentherm point of the gas, a cricondenbar point of the gas, a critical point of the gas, viscosity, density, flow characteristics, or a phase of the gas. In some embodiments, the one or more control decisions are determined to meet one or more control objectives. In some embodiments, the one or more control objectives include at least one of limiting a formation of hydrates in the gas, maintaining the gas in a desired phase, minimizing drag on gas flow, transitioning the gas into the desired phase, or reducing a likelihood of a fracture of a pipeline of the pipeline system. In some embodiments, the method further includes generating display data for a user, the display data including any of a diagram having a hydrate curve, an envelope curve, and a process path, a phase diagram of the gas, the sensor data, or one or more thermodynamic properties estimated by the one or more of the material model. In some embodiments, the method includes operating a display device to provide the display data to the user. In some embodiments, the one or more thermodynamic properties estimated by the one or more material models include any of a cricondentherm point of the gas, a cricondenbar point of the gas, or a critical point of the gas. In some embodiments, the one or more material models are selected, generated, or adjusted, based on the composition of the gas. Another implementation of the present disclosure is a controller for a pipeline system, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the controller includes processing circuitry configured to obtain sensor data of a gas in the pipeline system from sensors of a sensing unit. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is configured to perform a real-time and closed loop control scheme using the sensor data and a material model of the gas to determine one or more control decisions. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is configured to operate one or more controllable pipeline elements to adjust a temperature, a pressure, a flow rate, or a composition of the gas according to the one or more control decisions. In some embodiments, the sensor data includes any of the temperature of the gas, the pressure of the gas, the flow rate of the gas, or the composition of the gas. In some embodiments, the sensors of the sensing unit include any of a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the gas, a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the gas, a flow meter configured to measure the flow rate of the gas, and any of a gas chromatograph, laser interferometer, a water sensor, a density sensor, or a hydrogen sulfide sensor configured to measure the composition of the gas. In some embodiments, the sensor data is obtained from multiple sensing units positioned about the pipeline system. In some embodim