Systems and methods for monitoring system performance

• US 7,680,625 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EPI LP, MacSema, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EPI LP, MacSema, Inc.
• Inventors: Barton, David D, Wright, Ricky L., Trowbridge, Jack I. Jr., Richie, Delano S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US11/600,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20090139336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 702/113, 702/56, 702/54, 702/182, 702/51, 73/491, 735/92, 736/22, 735/42, 73/45.R, 73/40, 731/525.8, 738/665, 738/09, 735/87, 736/23, 340/605, 340/689, 340/683, 340/681, 340/603, 340/606, 340/539
• US Class Current: 702/182
• 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: G01B 21/08 for measuring thickness

Abstract

The present disclosure includes systems, apparatus, and methods for monitoring a pipeline network having plural inspection sites. The system comprises a memory module associated with one or more inspection sites, with each memory module storing one or more performance parameters corresponding to the associated inspection site. The system also comprises a measuring device operable to collect performance data of each associated inspection site. The system further comprises a portable reader configured to read the memory module, and in association with the measuring device, to compare the one or more performance parameters with the performance data to validate the performance data while in proximity to the associated inspection site.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a pipeline network having plural inspection sites, the system comprising:

a memory module associated with one or more inspection sites, each memory module storing one or more performance parameters corresponding to the associated inspection site and including site location data of a corresponding inspection site;

a measuring device operable to collect performance data of each associated inspection site; and

a portable reader configured to read the memory module, and in association with the measuring device, to compare the one or more performance parameters with the performance data to validate the performance data while in proximity to the associated inspection site, the portable reader further being configured to store site location data corresponding to plural inspection sites, and compare present site location data with reference site location data to determine a location of a destination inspection site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable reader is further configured to interpret the performance data while in proximity to the associated inspection site.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable reader is further configured to verify the one or more performance parameters while in proximity to the associated inspection site.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device and the portable reader form a unitary portable instrument.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each memory module includes a nonvolatile memory storing the one or more performance parameters.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance data includes current wall thickness, and wherein the one or more performance parameters include nominal wall thickness, minimal wall thickness, and one or more previous wall thicknesses.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is an ultrasound device.

8. The system of claim 1, further wherein the site location data includes global positioning satellite coordinates.

9. The system of claim 1, further wherein the site location data includes a distance value and a direction value.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a target associated with one or more inspection sites to define a performance data collection point at such associated inspection site.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance data includes a fugitive emissions value, and the one or more performance parameters include fugitive emissions parameters.

12. A method for monitoring a pipeline network having plural inspection sites, the method comprising the steps of:

storing one or more performance parameters on a memory module associated with such inspection site;

transmitting the one or more performance parameters associated with a present inspection site to a portable reader configured to read the memory module;

comparing with the portable reader one or more performance parameters of the present inspection site with performance data of the present inspection site to validate the performance data while in proximity to the present inspection site; and

associating with one or more inspection sites one or more site location data corresponding to such associated inspection site;

storing site location data corresponding to plural inspection sites on the portable reader; and

comparing present site location data with reference site location data to determine a location of a destination inspection site.

13. A method of claim 12, further comprising the step of collecting the performance data of the present inspection site using a measuring device associated with the portable reader.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of interpreting with the portable reader the performance data while in proximity to the present inspection site.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of verifying with the portable reader the one or more performance parameters while in proximity to the present inspection site.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of transmitting one or more updated performance parameters from the portable reader to the memory module associated with the present inspection site.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of transmitting one or more updated performance parameters from the portable reader to a remote database.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

associating with one or more inspection sites a target to define a performance data collection point at such inspection site; and

collecting the performance data at the performance data collection point associated with the present inspection site.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

storing the one or more site location data on the memory module associated with such inspection site; and

transmitting present site location data of the present inspection site from the memory module to the portable reader.

20. A system for monitoring a pipeline network having plural inspection sites, the system comprising:

a memory module associated with one or more inspection sites, each memory module storing one or more historical performance parameters and present site location data corresponding to such associated inspection site; and

a portable reader configured to read the memory module, wherein the portable reader compares the present site location data with reference site location data stored in the portable reader to determine a relative distance value and a relative direction value of a destination inspection site.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the site location data includes global positioning satellite coordinates.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the site location data includes Galileo positioning coordinates.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the portable reader is configured to adjust the relative distance value and the relative direction value.