Pipeline monitoring systems
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a pipeline, comprising:
- a distributed temperature measurement means including at least one optical fibre located within the pipeline for generating temperature measurement signals, said at least one optical fiber being located adjacent an outside wall of a pipe forming part of the pipeline, and being located between the pipe and a corrosion preventing layer; and
a processing device for receiving the temperature measurement signals, and for deriving from the temperature measurement signals an estimation of deposit deposition at at least one position along the pipeline.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An oil pipeline, which connects a Christmas tree at its lower end to an oil rig at its upper end, is fitted with a stainless steel tube sheathed telecommunications grade optical fiber, forming part of a distributed temperature measurement device, such as to be in thermal contact with the oil flowing along the pipeline. Also fitted to respective ones of three discrete positions on the pipeline are ultrasonic deposit thickness measurement devices, the one nearest of which to the Christmas tree is a few hundred meters downstream from a position where preliminary studies of the pipeline system have indicated that deposits are likely to form during oil production. A computer, located on the oil rig, is connected to be able to provide control over and to receive measurement signals from the temperature measurement devices and the deposit thickness measurement devices. A model of at least deposit deposition stored in the computer is revised in response to these signals. The model includes an approximation of the temperature, the pressure and the viscosity and flow patterns of the oil along the length of the pipeline and, from these parameters, an estimation of the nature and quantity or rate of deposit deposition along the length of the pipeline.
166 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A system for monitoring a pipeline, comprising:
- a distributed temperature measurement means including at least one optical fibre located within the pipeline for generating temperature measurement signals, said at least one optical fiber being located adjacent an outside wall of a pipe forming part of the pipeline, and being located between the pipe and a corrosion preventing layer; and
a processing device for receiving the temperature measurement signals, and for deriving from the temperature measurement signals an estimation of deposit deposition at at least one position along the pipeline. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- a distributed temperature measurement means including at least one optical fibre located within the pipeline for generating temperature measurement signals, said at least one optical fiber being located adjacent an outside wall of a pipe forming part of the pipeline, and being located between the pipe and a corrosion preventing layer; and
-
7. A system for monitoring a pipeline, comprising:
- a distributed temperature measurement means including at least one optical fiber associated with the pipeline for generating temperature measurement signals;
a processing device for receiving the temperature measurement signals, and for deriving from the temperature measurement signals an estimation of deposit deposition at at least one position along the pipeline; and
a thickness measurement means associated with the pipeline for generating thickness measurement signals; and
in which the processing device is also operative for receiving and deriving an estimation of deposit deposition from the thickness measurement signals, said thickness measurement means including at least one measurement transducer located at a discrete position along the pipeline. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a distributed temperature measurement means including at least one optical fiber associated with the pipeline for generating temperature measurement signals;
-
16. Apparatus for obtaining an indication of a nature of deposits along a pipeline, comprising:
- means for measuring a thickness measurement of the deposits at at least one discrete point along the pipeline;
means for measuring a temperature variation measurement along a length of the pipeline; and
means for using the two measurements to estimate a thickness of the deposits at different positions along the pipeline.
- means for measuring a thickness measurement of the deposits at at least one discrete point along the pipeline;
Specification