Pipeline optimizer system
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of optimizing operation of a pipeline system, comprising:
- executing instructions on one or more computer processors to perform operations, comprising;
a) reading input data, wherein the input data describes the pipeline system;
b) generating a population of solutions, wherein each solution in the population specifies a feasible operational state for the pipeline system;
c) evaluating an expected performance of each solution in the population and sorting the solutions in the population according to the evaluations;
d) performing a genetic algorithm optimization process on the population of solutions until a termination condition specified by the input data is satisfied, whereby a plurality of optimized production solutions is generated;
e) after the genetic algorithm optimization process is performed, selecting an optimized production solution from the plurality of optimized production solutions, wherein the selected optimized production solution has a highest evaluation, relative to the evaluations of other solutions in the population; and
f) generating an optimized pressure solution specifying an output pressure for one or more delivery points of the pipeline system and an input pressure for one or more production nodes of the pipeline system, for the selected optimized production solution, using a direct pressure optimization process to change pressures of some pipeline elements, wherein the direct pressure optimization is performed by;
calculating flows thorough a plurality of elements and nodes of the pipeline system;
determining and propagating pressures at the plurality of nodes;
generating a pressure dependency graph and using it to compute generalized pressure gap and minimum pressure for each sub network;
reducing pressures of high pressure nodes where possible;
propagating the pressures through the nodes of each sub network; and
recalculating at least one unknown parameter of the elements of each sub network.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the invention provides a method for optimizing a variety of aspects of pipeline operations by using a genetic algorithm. Generally, the genetic algorithm is used to evolve a population of feasible solutions over successive generations until a termination condition is satisfied. Each solution specifies a feasible operational state of the pipeline system. Over successive generations existing solutions are modified, and an identified solution in the population is removed at each successive generation. Over repeated generations, the solutions in the population improve. Once an optimized production solution is generated, an optimized pressure solution may be generated using a direct pressure optimization process.
16 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of optimizing operation of a pipeline system, comprising:
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executing instructions on one or more computer processors to perform operations, comprising; a) reading input data, wherein the input data describes the pipeline system; b) generating a population of solutions, wherein each solution in the population specifies a feasible operational state for the pipeline system; c) evaluating an expected performance of each solution in the population and sorting the solutions in the population according to the evaluations; d) performing a genetic algorithm optimization process on the population of solutions until a termination condition specified by the input data is satisfied, whereby a plurality of optimized production solutions is generated; e) after the genetic algorithm optimization process is performed, selecting an optimized production solution from the plurality of optimized production solutions, wherein the selected optimized production solution has a highest evaluation, relative to the evaluations of other solutions in the population; and f) generating an optimized pressure solution specifying an output pressure for one or more delivery points of the pipeline system and an input pressure for one or more production nodes of the pipeline system, for the selected optimized production solution, using a direct pressure optimization process to change pressures of some pipeline elements, wherein the direct pressure optimization is performed by; calculating flows thorough a plurality of elements and nodes of the pipeline system; determining and propagating pressures at the plurality of nodes; generating a pressure dependency graph and using it to compute generalized pressure gap and minimum pressure for each sub network; reducing pressures of high pressure nodes where possible; propagating the pressures through the nodes of each sub network; and recalculating at least one unknown parameter of the elements of each sub network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs a method for optimizing operation of a pipeline system, the computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for:
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a) reading input data, wherein the input data describes the pipeline system to be optimized; b) generating a population of solutions, wherein each solution in the population specifies a feasible operational state for the pipeline system; c) evaluating an expected performance of each solution in the population and sorting the solutions in the population according to the evaluation; d) performing a genetic algorithm optimization process on the population until a termination condition specified by the input data is satisfied, whereby a plurality of optimized production solutions is generated; e) after the genetic algorithm optimization process is performed, selecting an optimized production solution from the plurality of optimized production solutions, wherein the selected optimized production solution has a highest evaluation, relative to the evaluations of other solutions in the population; f) generating, for the selected optimized production solution, an optimized pressure solution specifying an output pressure for one or more delivery points of the pipeline system and an input pressure for one or more production nodes of the pipeline system, using a direct pressure optimization process to change pressures of some pipeline elements, wherein the direct pressure optimization is performed by; calculating flows thorough a plurality of elements and nodes of the pipeline system; determining and propagating pressures at the plurality of nodes; generating a pressure dependency graph and using it to compute generalized pressure gap and minimum pressure for each sub network; reducing pressures of high pressure nodes where possible; propagating the pressures through the nodes of each sub network; and recalculating at least one unknown parameter of the elements of each sub network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for optimizing the operation of a pipeline system, comprising:
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a) a processor; and b) an optimization program, which when executed by the processor, is configured to; i) read input data, wherein the input data describes the pipeline system to be optimized; ii) generate a population of solutions, wherein each solution in the population specifies a feasible operational state for the pipeline system; iii) evaluate an expected performance of each solution in the population of solutions and sort the solutions in the population according to the evaluations; iv) perform a genetic algorithm optimization process on the population until a termination condition specified by the input data is satisfied, whereby a plurality of optimized production solutions is generated; v) after the genetic algorithm optimization process is performed, selecting an optimized production solution from the plurality of optimized production solutions, wherein the selected optimized production solution has a highest evaluation, relative to the evaluations of other solutions in the population; and vi) generate, for the selected optimized production solution, an optimized pressure solution specifying an output pressure for one or more delivery points of the pipeline system and an input pressure for one or more production nodes of the pipeline system, using a direct pressure optimization process to change pressures of some pipeline elements, wherein the direct pressure optimization is performed by; calculating flows thorough a plurality of elements and nodes of the pipeline system; determining and propagating pressures at the plurality of nodes; generating a pressure dependency graph and using it to compute generalized pressure gap and minimum pressure for each sub network; reducing pressures of high pressure nodes where possible; propagating the pressures through the nodes of each sub network; and recalculating at least one unknown parameter of the elements of each sub network. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer-implemented method of optimizing operations of a pipeline system, comprising:
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a) generating, using a computer, an optimized production solution for a production of material supplied to the pipeline system using a genetic algorithm optimization technique to optimize a population of seed solutions; and b) generating, using the computer, an optimized pressure solution specifying an output pressure present at one or more delivery points of the pipeline system and an input pressure to generate at one or more production nodes of the pipeline system, for the generated optimized production solution using a direct pressure optimization technique to change pressures of some pipeline elements, wherein the direct pressure optimization is performed by; calculating flows thorough a plurality of elements and nodes of the pipeline system; determining and propagating pressures at the plurality of nodes; generating a pressure dependency graph and using it to compute generalized pressure gap and minimum pressure for each sub network; reducing pressures of high pressure nodes where possible; propagating the pressures through the nodes of each sub network; and recalculating at least one unknown parameter of the elements of each sub network. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification