Hydrostatic test system and method

• US 20050252278A1
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milbar Hydro-Test, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Milbar Hydro-Test, Inc.
• Inventors: Burch, Eric, Bryant, Layton
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/49.500
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements

Abstract

A system and method of hydrostatic testing a pipeline that is not in service, according to which the pipeline is hydrostatically pressurized and a portable remote telemetry unit is temporarily connected to the pipeline for measuring variables corresponding to the hydrostatic pressurization. Data corresponding to the variable measurements is transmitted to a central location and the portable remote telemetry unit is disconnected from the pipeline.

Claims

1. A method for hydrostatic testing of a pipeline that is not in service, comprising:

hydrostatically pressurizing the pipeline;

temporarily connecting at least one portable remote telemetry unit to the pipeline for measuring variables associated with the pipeline;

transmitting to a central location data corresponding to the variable measurements associated with the pipeline from the at least one portable remote telemetry unit; and

disconnecting the at least one portable remote telemetry unit from the pipeline.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the variables associated with the pipeline include the internal pressure of the pipeline and the temperature of the pipeline.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting comprises temporarily connecting a pressure sensor to the pipeline and temporarily connecting a temperature sensor to the pipeline.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one portable remote telemetry unit is in two-way wireless communication with a transmitter-receiver located at the central location.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising remotely controlling the at least one portable remote telemetry unit from the central location.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the data at the central location.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the processing includes generating logs corresponding to the variable measurements, calculating pressure loss rates, calculating pressure gain rates and reconciling data corresponding to the internal temperature of the pipeline with data corresponding to the internal pressure of the pipeline..

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising outputting the processed data to an output device.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of processing includes comparing data corresponding to at least one variable measurement with a predetermined value and activating an alarm when the data corresponding to at least one measured variable is within a predetermined range of the predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting the processed data from the central location and to a server.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of transmitting the processed data comprises providing a two-way satellite link at the central location, providing a satellite in communication with the two-way satellite link and with a satellite gateway wherein the satellite gateway is in communication with the server, sending the processed data from the two-way satellite link and to the gateway via the satellite, and sending the processed data from the gateway and to the server.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the satellite is in two-way wireless communication with the two-way satellite link and wherein the satellite gateway is in two-way wireless communication with the satellite.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising sending the processed data from the server and to at least one user interface.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the processed data is sent to the at least one user interface over a data network.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of hydrostatically pressurizing comprises providing a means for hydrostatically pressurizing the pipeline with water and measuring variables associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the variables associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means include pressure, the water flow rate and the water temperature.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of measuring variables associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means comprises transmitting to the central location data corresponding to the variable measurements associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of measuring variables associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means comprises connecting an additional portable remote telemetry unit to the hydrostatically pressurizing means and transmitting data corresponding to the variable measurements associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means from the additional portable remote telemetry unit and to the central location.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the additional portable remote telemetry unit is in two-way wireless communication with a transmitter-receiver located at the central location.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising remotely controlling at least a portion of the hydrostatically pressurizing means.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of remotely controlling comprises connecting an additional portable remote telemetry unit to the hydrostatically pressurizing means and transmitting control signals from the central location and to the additional portable remote telemetry unit.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the additional portable remote telemetry unit is in two-way wireless communication with a transmitter-receiver located at the central location.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising transporting a mobile control station to the central location so that the mobile control station receives the data transmitted from the at least one portable remote telemetry unit.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the mobile control station comprises a computer for processing the data.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising transmitting the processed data from the mobile control station and to a server.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising sending the processed data from the server and to at least one user interface.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising temporarily connecting at least one other portable remote telemetry unit to the pipeline for measuring variables associated with the pipeline.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising transmitting data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit from the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit and to the central location.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising transmitting data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit from the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit and to the at least one portable remote telemetry unit.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising transmitting the data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit from the at least one portable remote telemetry unit and to the central location.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising transmitting data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit from the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit and to a repeater.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising transmitting the data corresponding to the measurements taken by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit from the repeater and to the at least one portable remote telemetry unit.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising transmitting the data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit from the at least one portable remote telemetry unit and to the central location.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising transmitting the data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit from the repeater and to the central location.

35. The method of claim 27 further comprising disconnecting the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit.

36. The method of claim 28 further comprising remotely controlling the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit.

37. A system for hydrostatic testing of a pipeline, comprising:

means for hydrostatically pressurizing the pipeline;

at least one portable remote telemetry unit temporarily connected to the pipeline for measuring variables associated with the pipeline and for transmitting data corresponding to the variable measurements; and

a control station for receiving the data from the at least one portable remote telemetry unit.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the variables associated with the pipeline include the internal pressure of the pipeline and the temperature of the pipeline.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the at least one portable remote telemetry unit comprises a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor connected to the pipeline.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the at least one portable remote telemetry unit comprises a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor connected to the pipeline.

41. The system of claim 37 wherein the at least one portable remote telemetry unit is in two-way wireless communication with the control station and is remotely controlled from the control station.

42. The system of claim 37 wherein the control station comprises a computer for processing the data.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the processing includes generating logs corresponding to the variable measurements, calculating pressure loss rates, calculating pressure gain rates and reconciling data corresponding to the internal temperature of the pipeline with data corresponding to the internal pressure of the pipeline.

44. The system of claim 42 wherein the control station further comprises at least one output device for outputting the processed data.

45. The system of claim 42 wherein the processing includes comparing data corresponding to at least one measured variable with a predetermined value and activating an alarm when the data corresponding to at least one measured variable is within a predetermined range of the predetermined value.

46. The system of claim 42 wherein the control station further comprises a satellite link in communication with the computer for transmitting the processed data from the control station and to a satellite gateway via a satellite.

47. The system of claim 46 further comprising a server in communication with the satellite gateway for receiving the processed data from the satellite gateway.

48. The system of claim 47 further comprising at least one user interface in communication with the server for downloading the processed data.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the processed data is downloaded to the at least one user interface over a data network.

50. The system of claim 37 wherein the control station comprises a transmitter-receiver in communication with the at least one portable remote telemetry unit for receiving the data, a computer in communication with the transmitter-receiver for processing the data, and a two-way satellite link in communication with the computer for transmitting the processed data to a satellite gateway via a satellite.

51. The system of claim 50 further comprising a mobile enclosure for transporting the transmitter-receiver, the computer and the two-way satellite link.

52. The system of claim 37 further comprising an additional portable remote telemetry unit connected to at least a portion of the hydrostatically pressurizing means for measuring variables associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means and for transmitting to the control station data corresponding to the variable measurements associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the additional portable remote telemetry unit is in communication with the control station.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein the hydrostatically pressurizing means comprises means for providing water to the pipeline and wherein the variables associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means include pressure, the water flow rate and the water temperature.

55. The system of claim 37 wherein at least a portion of the hydrostatically pressurizing means is remotely controlled from the control station.

56. The system of claim 37 further comprising an additional portable remote telemetry unit connected to at least a portion of the hydrostatically pressurizing means for controlling the at least a portion of the hydrostatically pressurizing means.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the additional portable remote telemetry unit is in communication with the control station and wherein the at least a portion of the hydrostatically pressurizing means is remotely controlled from the control station.

58. The system of claim 37 further comprising at least one other portable remote telemetry unit connected to the pipeline for measuring variables associated with the pipeline.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit is in communication with the control station for transmitting to the control station data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit is transmitted to the control station via a repeater.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein the data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit is transmitted to the control station via the at least one portable remote telemetry unit.

62. The system of claim 60 wherein the data corresponding to the variable measurements measured by the at least one other portable remote telemetry unit is transmitted to the control station via the at least one portable remote telemetry unit and a repeater.

63. A system for hydrostatic testing of a pipeline, comprising:

means for hydrostatically pressurizing the pipeline;

means for measuring variables associated with the pipeline at a first location; and

means for wirelessly transmitting to a second location data corresponding to the variable measurements associated with the pipeline.

64. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for remotely controlling the measuring means from the second location.

65. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for remotely controlling at least a portion of the hydrostatically pressurizing means from the second location.

66. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for measuring variables associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means.

67. The system of claim 66 further comprising means for wirelessly transmitting to the second location data corresponding to the variable measurements associated with the hydrostatically pressurizing means.

68. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for processing the data.

69. The system of claim 68 further comprising means for outputting the processed data.

70. The system of claim 68 further comprising means for wirelessly transmitting the processed data to a third location.