Data analysis system for determining coating conditions of a buried pipeline

• US 20100121578A1
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Davis, Thomas James
• Granted Patent: US 8,000,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/02 Electrochemical measuring systems for weathering, corrosion or corrosion-protection measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/028 Multiple view windows (top-side-front-sagittal-orthogonal)
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2012 Colour editing, changing, or manipulating; Use of colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A data analysis program operable for displaying at least one representation of a buried pipeline in a geographical area and associated on-pipe current values at various locations along the pipeline. The data analysis program is storable in a memory device and executable by a processor to generate a display on a display device. The data analysis program includes instructions for displaying a digital map representing at least a portion of the buried pipeline extending across the geographical area being surveyed. The program further includes instructions for displaying a current plot of current values associated with the various locations in the geographical area, and instructions for displaying a table having a plurality of fields including the leakage current values and associated geographical coordinates where the current values were measured in the geographical area being surveyed.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface (GUI) of a pipeline data analysis program for displaying at least one representation of a buried pipeline in a geographical area and associated current leakage values at various locations along the pipeline, the GUI comprising:

a digital map for displaying a representation of the buried pipeline extending across the geographical area being surveyed;

a current plot for displaying on-pipe current values associated with the various locations in the geographical area; and

a table having a plurality of fields for displaying on-pipe current values and associated geographical coordinate information of the geographical area being surveyed.

2. The GUI of claim 1, wherein each current value provided in the table is displayed in the current plot, and each location associated with the current value is displayed in the digital map.

3. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the digital map, current plot and table are each provided in a separate window of the GUI.

4. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the table includes a navigational tool for selecting one or more data test points, each data test point having a unique geographical coordinate and associated leakage current value.

5. The GUI of claim 4, wherein each data test point has a unique identifier.

6. The GUI of claim 5, wherein the unique identifier is a log number.

7. The GUI of claim 1, wherein each location is defined with a longitudinal and latitudinal coordinate.

8. The GUI of claim 5, wherein a current value in the current plot and an associated geographic coordinate in the digital map are highlighted upon a user selecting a corresponding one of the plurality of data test points in the table.

9. The GUI of claim 5, wherein a current value in the current plot and an associated one of the plurality of data test points in the table are highlighted upon a user selecting a corresponding geographic coordinate in the digital map.

10. The GUI of claim 5, wherein a geographic coordinate in the digital map and an associated one of the plurality of data test points in the table are highlighted upon a user selecting a corresponding current value in the current plot.

11. The GUI of claim 1, wherein current values and associated geographical coordinate information are stored in a spreadsheet format.

12. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the current values and associated geographical coordinate information are recorded in real time.

13. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the digital map includes a zoom-in and zoom-out feature to enlarge or reduce the geographical area being observed.

14. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the table includes a text field for including landmark information.

15. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the table includes a time field for recording the time that current leakage measurements were taken at each geographical coordinate.

16. The GUI of claim 1, wherein each on-pipe current value indicates a coating condition of the buried pipeline at each geographical coordinate.

17. A data analysis system operable to display at least one representation of a buried pipeline in a geographical area and associated current leakage values at various locations along the pipeline, the system comprising:

a processor;

a display device coupled to the processor; and

a memory device for storing instructions operable with the processor, the instructions being executable by the processor for;

displaying a digital map showing a representation of at least a portion of the buried pipeline extending across the geographical area being surveyed;

displaying a current plot of on-pipe current values associated with the various locations in the geographical area; and

displaying a table having a plurality of fields including the current values and associated geographical coordinates of the various locations where the current along the pipeline was measured in the geographical area being surveyed.

18. The data analysis system of claim 17, wherein the digital map is displayed in a first window, the current plot is displayed in a second window, and the table is displayed in a third window on the display device.

19. The data analysis system of claim 17, wherein the memory device further stores a unique identifier for each current value and associated geographical coordinate acquired during monitoring of the buried pipeline.

20. The data analysis system of claim 17, wherein each current value or relative change in current value indicates a coating condition of the buried pipeline at each geographical coordinate.

21. A data analysis program operable to display at least one representation of a buried pipeline in a geographical area and associated current leakage values at various locations along the pipeline, the data analysis program being storable in a memory device and executable by a processor to generate a display on a display device, the data analysis program comprising:

instructions for displaying a digital map representing at least a portion of the buried pipeline extending across the geographical area being surveyed;

instructions for displaying a current plot of current values associated with the various locations in the geographical area; and

instructions for displaying a table having a plurality of fields including the leakage current values and associated geographical coordinates where the current values were measured in the geographical area being surveyed.

22. The data analysis system of claim 21, wherein each current value or relative change in current values indicates a coating condition of the buried pipeline at each geographical coordinate.