METHODS OF FACILITATING PIPELINE MANAGEMENT, SYSTEMS, AND SOFTWARE

• US 20080167825A1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Al-Mejna, Abdulaziz K., Tarabzouni, Thamer K., Wood, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99956 File allocation

Abstract

Methods for facilitating pipeline management, systems, and software, are provided. A method can include forming digitized map segments to provide for display of a geographical relationship between terrain featured in the map segments and a pipeline network, forming pipeline equipment records to provide for detailed engineering analysis on associated pipeline equipment, functionally linking each digitized map segment and each pipeline equipment record to at least one pipeline operational area geographically associated therewith, at least one pipeline geographically associated therewith, or both, and spatially displaying a pipeline equipment work location in relation to one of the map segments. The method can also or alternatively include identifying an immediate upstream and downstream valve from a location of a pipeline rupture to thereby identify pipeline valves potentially needing to be closed, and displaying critical engineering data and drawings for one or more of a ruptured pipeline, the immediate upstream valve, and the immediate downstream valve.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating pipeline management, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of digitized map segments to be stored in a database to provide for display of a geographical relationship between terrain featured in the map segments and a pipeline network;

forming a plurality of pipeline equipment records to be stored in the database to provide for detailed engineering analysis on associated pipeline equipment;

functionally lining each separate one of the plurality of digitized map segments to one or more of the following;

at least one of a plurality of pipeline operational areas geographically associated therewith and at least one of a plurality of pipelines geographically associated therewith; and

functionally linking each separate one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records for a corresponding plurality of pipeline equipment to one or more of the following;

at least one of the plurality of pipeline operational areas containing the respective pipeline equipment and at least one of the plurality of pipelines containing the respective pipeline equipment.

2. A method as defined in claim 1,

wherein each of the plurality of digitized map segments comprise one or more of the following:

a digital map, a processed satellite image, and an aerial photograph; and

wherein each of the pipeline equipment records comprise one or more of the following;

engineering data, engineering drawings, and location data of associated pipeline equipment.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of pipeline management records including pipeline equipment management data for storage in the database to provide for planning and execution of management actions on the pipeline equipment, the pipeline equipment management data including pipeline equipment inspection, operation, and maintenance data; and

functionally linking each of the plurality of pipeline management records for a corresponding pipeline equipment to one or more of the following;

at least one of the plurality of pipeline operational areas containing the respective pipeline equipment and at least one of the plurality of pipelines containing the respective pipeline equipment.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving at least one of the plurality of map segments and at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records from the database to display a pipeline equipment work location associated with at least one user selected pipeline equipment; and

retrieving at least one of the plurality of pipeline management records from the database to display maintenance or repair information for the at least one user selected pipeline equipment.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the steps of retrieving the at least one of the plurality of map segments, retrieving the at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records, and retrieving the at least one of the plurality of pipeline management records are performed through an area network, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

displaying the pipeline equipment work location associated with the at least one user selected pipeline equipment spatially with respect to at least a portion of an associated at least one of the plurality of map segments, the pipeline equipment work location spatially displayed with the at least a portion of the associated at least one of the plurality of map segments on a display of a portable user computer adapted to interface with the area network and adapted to interface with a navigation system to direct the user to the displayed pipeline equipment work location; and

transmitting updated pipeline management record data through the area network to be stored in the database to reflect pipeline equipment work accomplished on the user selected pipeline equipment associated with the pipeline equipment work location to thereby provide a subsequent user updated data regarding the user selected pipeline equipment.

6. A method for analyzing a pipeline rupture, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from a location of the pipeline rupture to thereby identify pipeline valves potentially needing to be closed; and

displaying critical engineering data and drawings for at least one of the following;

a ruptured pipeline, the at least one immediate upstream valve, and the at least one immediate downstream valve.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the step of calculating an amount of pipeline segment volume inventory between the at least one immediate upstream valve and the at least one immediate downstream valve to thereby determine potential lost inventory from the pipeline rupture.

8. A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the step of identifying contact personnel assigned primary responsibility for the pipeline equipment involved in the pipeline rupture.

9. A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

accessing a list of external agencies from an external agency computer to assist a user in locating a nearby external agency to provide support in the event of a pipeline emergency;

displaying at least one local city location record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one city near a user selected pipeline equipment; and

displaying at least one pipeline facilities record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one pipeline facility near the user selected pipeline equipment.

10. A method for analyzing a pipeline rupture, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from a location of the pipeline rupture to thereby identify pipeline valves potentially needing to be closed;

displaying critical engineering data and drawings for one or more of the following;

a ruptured pipeline, the at least one immediate upstream valve, and the at least one immediate downstream valve; and

identifying a rupture exposure radius coverage area of the pipeline to thereby identify an area affected by the pipeline rupture and to obtain summary information about pipeline equipment within the rupture exposure radius coverage area.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying at least one pipeline incident location to thereby allow a user to select and display an incident report record for the at least one displayed incident location.

12. A computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

receiving a plurality of digitized map segments to be stored in a database to provide for display of a geographical relationship between terrain featured in the map segments and a pipeline network;

receiving a plurality of pipeline equipment records to be stored in the database to provide for detailed engineering analysis on associated pipeline equipment;

functionally linking each separate one of the plurality of digitized map segments to one or more of the following;

at least one of a plurality of pipeline operational areas geographically associated therewith and at least one of a plurality of pipelines geographically associated therewith; and

functionally linking each separate one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records for a corresponding plurality of pipeline equipment to one or more of the following;

at least one of the plurality of pipeline operational areas containing the respective pipeline equipment and at least one of the plurality of pipelines containing the respective pipeline equipment.

13. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

forming a plurality of pipeline management records including pipeline equipment management data for storage in the database to provide for planning and execution of management actions on the pipeline equipment; and

functionally linking each of the plurality of pipeline management records for a corresponding pipeline equipment to one or more of the following;

at least one of the plurality of pipeline operational areas containing the respective pipeline equipment and at least one of the plurality of pipelines containing the respective pipeline equipment.

14. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 13,

wherein each of the plurality of digitized map segments comprise one or more of the following:

a digital map, a processed satellite image, and an aerial photograph;

wherein each of the pipeline equipment records comprise one or more of the following;

engineering data, engineering drawings, and location data of associated pipeline equipment; and

wherein the pipeline equipment management data includes pipeline equipment inspection, operation, and maintenance data.

15. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

retrieving at least one of the plurality of map segments and at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records from the database to display a pipeline equipment work location associated with at least one user selected pipeline equipment; and

retrieving at least one of the plurality of pipeline management records from the database to display maintenance or repair information for the at least one user selected pipeline equipment.

16. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the operations of retrieving the at least one of the plurality of map segments, retrieving the at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records, and retrieving the at least one of the plurality of pipeline management records are performed through an area network, and wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying the pipeline equipment work location associated with the at least one user selected pipeline equipment spatially with respect to at least a portion of an associated at least one of the plurality of map segments, the pipeline equipment work location spatially displayed with the at least a portion of the associated at least one of the plurality of map segments on a display of a portable user computer adapted to interface with the area network and adapted to interface with a navigation system to direct the user to the displayed pipeline equipment work location; and

sending updated pipeline management record data through the area network to be stored in the database to reflect pipeline equipment work accomplished on the user selected pipeline equipment associated with the pipeline equipment work location to thereby provide a subsequent user updated data regarding the user selected pipeline equipment.

17. A computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

identifying at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from a location of the pipeline rupture to thereby identify pipeline valves potentially needing to be closed; and

displaying critical engineering data and drawings for at least one of the following;

a ruptured pipeline, the at least one immediate upstream valve, and the at least one immediate downstream valve.

18. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise calculating an amount of pipeline segment volume inventory between the at least one immediate upstream valve and the at least one immediate downstream valve to thereby determine potential lost inventory from the pipeline rupture.

19. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise identifying contact personnel assigned primary responsibility for the pipeline equipment involved in the pipeline rupture.

20. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

accessing a list of external agencies from an external agency computer to assist a user in locating a nearby external agency to provide support in the event of a pipeline emergency;

displaying at least one local city location record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one city near a user selected pipeline equipment; and

displaying at least one pipeline facilities record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one pipeline facility near the user selected pipeline equipment.

21. A computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

identifying at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from a location of the pipeline rupture to thereby identify pipeline valves potentially needing to be closed;

displaying critical engineering data and drawings for one or more of the following;

a ruptured pipeline, the at least one immediate upstream valve, and the at least one immediate downstream valve; and

identifying a rupture exposure radius coverage area of the pipeline to thereby identify an area affected by the pipeline rupture and to obtain summary information about pipeline equipment within the rupture exposure radius coverage area.

22. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise displaying at least one pipeline incident location to thereby allow a user to select and display an incident report record for the at least one displayed incident location.