System and Method for Calculating and Reporting Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure

• US 20130338833A1
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E Corporation)
• Inventors: Medina, Jose A., Singh, Sumeet, Ford, Thomas R., Allen, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US13/921,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/00 Pipe-line systems conveying articles or materials through a pipe- line by means of a fluid carrier B65G51/00, B65G53/00; liquids B67D; special devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers into vehicles or boats or vice versa, e.g. loading or unloading vehicles or portable containers B67D7/00; conveying material which has been excavated by a dredger or soil shifter through a pipe-line E02F7/10; sewer pipe-line systems E03F3/00; thermal insulation of pipe-lines F16L59/00; central heating systems F24D
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/00 Protection or supervision of installations arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/20 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a pipeline analysis system for analyzing a pipeline dataset to determine compliance with desired maximum allowable pipeline operating pressures. In some embodiments, pipeline component data can correspond to an existing or planned physical pipeline. In some embodiments, the pipeline analysis system can enable revision of the pipeline component data to specify at least one pipeline component having at least one different characteristic than was originally specified in the dataset or specify pipeline components that are in compliance with desired maximum allowable pipeline operating pressures. In some embodiments, the pipeline analysis system comprises a processor, and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor. In some embodiments, the program logic comprises logic executed by the processor for receiving and tangibly storing pipeline component data corresponding to an existing or planned physical pipeline.

Claims

1. A pipeline analysis system comprising:

a processor;

a first non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising;

logic executed by the processor for receiving and tangibly storing on a second non-transitory computer-readable storage medium a dataset including pipeline component data corresponding to an existing or planned physical pipeline;

logic executed by the processor for analyzing the dataset to determine compliance with desired maximum allowable pipeline operating pressures;

logic executed by the processor for enabling revision of the pipeline component data to specify pipeline components that are in compliance with desired maximum allowable pipeline operating pressures; and

logic executed by the processor for providing an exception report listing non-compliant pipeline components.

2. The pipeline analysis system of claim 1, wherein the pipeline component data includes data corresponding to pipe segments, pipe fittings and pipe valves.

3. The pipeline analysis system of claim 1, wherein the dataset is analyzed using batch processing techniques.

4. The pipeline analysis system of claim 3, wherein the dataset contains pipeline component data for an entire pipeline.

5. The pipeline analysis system of claim 1, wherein the dataset is analyzed at least in part by comparing the pipeline component data to an industry standard pipeline database stored on a third non-transitory computer-readable medium.

6. A pipeline analysis system comprising:

a processor;

a first non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising;

logic executed by the processor for receiving and tangibly storing on a second non-transitory computer-readable storage medium a dataset including pipeline component data corresponding to an existing or planned physical pipeline;

logic executed by the processor for analyzing the dataset to determine compliance with desired maximum allowable pipeline operating pressures;

logic executed by the processor for enabling revision of the pipeline component data to specify at least one pipeline component having at least one different characteristic than was originally specified in the dataset; and

logic executed by the processor for analyzing the revised dataset to determine the maximum allowable pipeline operating pressure for the existing or planned physical pipeline.

7. The pipeline analysis system of claim 6, further including logic executed by the processor for enabling a maximum allowable pipeline operating pressure and providing an exception report listing non-compliant pipeline components.

8. The pipeline analysis system of claim 6, wherein the pipeline component data includes data corresponding to pipe segments, pipe fittings and pipe valves.

9. The pipeline analysis system of claim 6, wherein the dataset is analyzed using batch processing techniques.

10. The pipeline analysis system of claim 8, wherein the dataset contains pipeline component data for an entire pipeline.

11. The pipeline analysis system of claim 6, wherein the dataset is analyzed at least in part by comparing the pipeline component data to an industry standard pipeline database stored on a third non-transitory computer-readable medium.