Monitoring pipeline integrity

• US 8,903,558 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jarrell Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Ipixc LLC
• Inventors: Jarrell, John A., Hendrickson, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCAPIN, MICHAEL JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/485,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/04 for distribution of gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/082 for cold fluids, e.g. liquefied gas F17D1/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/01 for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product
• 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: F17D 5/005 of gas pipelines, e.g. alarm
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0629 characterised by the type of regulator means

Abstract

A method of detecting and responding to a threat condition includes receiving, at a sensing module, an input acquired in proximity to a pipeline of a fluid distribution system, the input including data associated with a vibration measurement of the pipeline acquired by a sensor exterior of the pipeline. The method also includes determining whether the input indicates a threat condition by comparing the data to a previously recorded baseline vibration measurement. The method further includes automatically closing a first fluid transmission valve in response to a determined threat condition, thereby restricting flow of fluid through the pipeline in a vicinity of the first fluid transmission valve, and wirelessly transmitting a message for receipt by a control module that is remote from the sensing module, the message including indications of the determined threat condition, the first fluid transmission valve, and an identifier associated with the sensing module.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of detecting and responding to a threat condition, comprising:

receiving, at a monitoring assembly, an input acquired in proximity to a pipeline of a fluid distribution system through which fluid is flowing, the input comprising data associated with a measurement of a vibration characteristic of the pipeline, wherein the data is acquired by a sensor positioned exterior of the pipeline;

determining, by the monitoring assembly, whether the input indicates a threat condition for the pipeline by comparing the data to a baseline vibration measurement of the pipeline, the baseline vibration measurement having been previously recorded;

wirelessly transmitting, by the monitoring assembly, via an antenna of the monitoring assembly and in response to a determined threat condition, a first message for receipt by a first valve assembly associated with a first fluid transmission valve of the pipeline and a second message for receipt by a second valve assembly associated with a second fluid transmission valve of the pipeline, wherein the first fluid transmission valve is located upstream of the monitoring assembly and the second fluid transmission valve is located downstream of the monitoring assembly, and wherein the first message instructs the first valve assembly to cause the first fluid transmission valve to close and the second message instructs the second valve assembly to cause the second fluid transmission valve to close;

wirelessly transmitting, by the monitoring assembly, a third message via the antenna of the monitoring assembly for receipt by a control system of the fluid distribution system, wherein the control system is remote from the monitoring assembly, the third message comprising an indication of the determined threat condition, an indication of the first fluid transmission valve and the second fluid transmission valve, and an identifier associated with the monitoring assembly; and

performing a maintenance routine by periodically at least partially closing and then reopening the first fluid transmission valve or the second fluid transmission valve.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, water, and oil.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the input indicates a threat condition for the pipeline comprises determining that a first amplitude of the data differs from a second amplitude of the baseline vibration measurement by at least a threshold amplitude amount.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the input indicates a threat condition for the pipeline comprises determining that a first frequency of the data differs from a second frequency of the baseline vibration measurement by at least a threshold frequency amount.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the messages are wirelessly transmitted over a network, the network selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency network, a microwave network, the Internet, and a cellular network.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the control system is communicably connected to a plurality of sensing modules via a mesh network.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly transmitting, by the control system, one or more messages for receipt by one or more other valve assemblies associated with one or more other fluid transmission valves of the pipeline to cause the one or more other fluid transmission valves to close.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an acoustic sensor, and wherein the data associated with the measurement of vibration of the pipeline represents an audible signal.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the message further comprises a time stamp.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the control system stores an indication of the periodically at least partially closing and then reopening the first fluid transmission valve or the second fluid transmission valve.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is in contact with an exterior surface of the pipeline and does not penetrate the pipeline.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises an internet protocol (IP) address of the monitoring assembly.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the message further comprises a security question, and wherein at least a portion of the message is associated with a correct answer to the security question.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a message from the control system, the received message including a command and a security question, and wherein the command is associated with a correct answer to the security question so that the command is only executed if the security question is correctly answered.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the control system stores the indication of the determined threat condition and the indication of the first and second fluid transmission valves in an electronic storage device.

16. An apparatus for detecting and responding to a threat condition, comprising:

a monitoring assembly in proximity to a pipeline through which fluid is flowing of a fluid distribution system, wherein the monitoring assembly is configured to receive an input acquired in proximity to the pipeline, the input comprising data associated with a measurement of a vibration characteristic of the pipeline, wherein the data is acquired by a sensor positioned exterior of the pipeline;

wherein the monitoring assembly is configured to;

(a) determine whether the input indicates a threat condition for the pipeline by comparing the data to a baseline vibration measurement of the pipeline, the baseline vibration measurement having been previously recorded, and (b) wirelessly transmit, via an antenna of the monitoring assembly and in response to a determined threat condition, a first message for receipt by a first valve assembly associated with a first fluid transmission valve of the pipeline and a second message for receipt by a second valve assembly associated with a second fluid transmission valve of the pipeline, wherein the first fluid transmission valve is located upstream of the monitoring assembly and the second fluid transmission valve is located downstream of the monitoring assembly, and wherein the first message instructs the first valve assembly to cause the first fluid transmission valve to close and the second message instructs the second valve assembly to cause the second fluid transmission valve to close;

wherein the monitoring assembly is configured to wirelessly transmit a third message via the antenna of the monitoring assembly for receipt by a control system of the fluid distribution system that is remote from the apparatus, the third message comprising an indication of the determined threat condition, an indication of the first fluid transmission valve and the second fluid transmission valve, and an identifier associated with the apparatus, wherein the monitoring assembly is configured to perform a valve maintenance routine by periodically at least partially closing and then reopening the first fluid transmission valve or the second fluid transmission valve, and wherein the valve maintenance routine is performed independently of determining threat conditions.