System and method to accomplish pipeline reliability
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating the determination of whether to take pipe management action, the method comprising, in any order, at least the steps of:
- acquiring a first parameter, the first parameter being a design parameter for the pipe;
inspecting the pipe at least a first time;
acquiring a second parameter, the second parameter being an inspection parameter comprising at least an evaluation of the structural integrity of the pipe;
acquiring a third parameter, the third parameter comprising at least a pressure within the pipe; and
using at least a relation of the evaluation of the structural integrity of the pipe and the pressure within the pipe, facilitating a determination of whether or not to take pipe management action.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed for facilitating the management of pipeline reliability, maintenance, repair, and/or replacement. Embodiments may be computer-implemented, and may be suitable for prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (e.g., PCCP). Method steps include inspecting the pipe and storing or inputting design and inspection parameters, as well as the maximum expected pressure within the pipe. A relation of pressure versus degradation (e.g., number of broken wires) may be used, which may have zones of risk or classifications corresponding to pipe management actions. The pipe may be analyzed for lack of prestress over various portions of circumference and length. The pipe rupture pressure, crack onset pressure, or can rupture pressure may be analyzed and compared to the expected pressure. The method may be tested and the inspection repeated while tracking changes. The action may involve, for instance, doing nothing, monitoring the pipe, repairing the pipe, or replacing the pipe.
56 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of facilitating the determination of whether to take pipe management action, the method comprising, in any order, at least the steps of:
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acquiring a first parameter, the first parameter being a design parameter for the pipe;
inspecting the pipe at least a first time;
acquiring a second parameter, the second parameter being an inspection parameter comprising at least an evaluation of the structural integrity of the pipe;
acquiring a third parameter, the third parameter comprising at least a pressure within the pipe; and
using at least a relation of the evaluation of the structural integrity of the pipe and the pressure within the pipe, facilitating a determination of whether or not to take pipe management action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for facilitating a determination of whether to take pipe management action, the system comprising at least:
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a relation of pressure versus a quantification of the degradation of the structural integrity of the pipe;
said relation being at least one of;
a physically-viewable graph, an algorithm stored within a computer, and data stored within a computer; and
said relation having at least;
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a zone of higher risk, and a zone of lower risk. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of facilitating the management of a pipeline, the pipeline comprising at least a plurality of sections of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe, the method comprising, in any order, at least the steps of:
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storing design data for each of at least a plurality of the sections, the design data comprising at least one dimension of each section;
inspecting at least a plurality of the sections, said inspecting comprising at least evaluating the quantity of failed wires within the sections;
estimating the maximum pressure that is likely to exist in future service within each of at least a plurality of the sections;
using at least the design data, the quantity of failed wires, and the maximum pressure, designating a classification for the condition of at least a plurality of the sections; and
implementing pipe management action based on at least one classification. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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25. The method according to claim 25, each classification having a corresponding action, the method further comprising at least the steps of:
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calculating the rate of wire failures for at least a plurality of the sections; and
predicting when at least one of the sections will enter another classification.
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43. A computer implemented system for facilitating a determination of whether to take pipe management action, the system comprising at least:
a processor, said processor being configured to;
acquire a first parameter, the first parameter being a design parameter for the pipe;
acquire a second parameter, the second parameter being an inspection parameter comprising at least information indicating the degradation of the structural integrity of the pipe;
acquire a third parameter, the third parameter comprising at least a pressure within the pipe; and
using at least a relation of the second parameter and the third parameter, output information to facilitate determining at least whether or not to take pipe management action. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
Specification