Process for mapping off-site piping systems in a refinery and/or petrochemical facility and a system for providing emergency isolation and response in a refinery and/or petrochemical facility

• US 8,423,319 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Hill, Susan C., Calhoun, Elvis L., Castro, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Teixeira Moffat, Jonathan C
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US13/306,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20120072175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 702/152, 702/150, 702/176, 702/142, 702/2, 702/5, 702/51, 324/220, 324/207.13
• US Class Current: 702/152
• 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: G06F 2113/14 Pipes

Abstract

A process of mapping piping systems associated with a refinery and petrochemical facilities is disclosed, which maps piping systems, which interconnect facility operating units with other operating units, utilities, distribution facilities and storage units. A system for aiding in the isolation of piping systems, operating units and other facility components is also disclosed. The system includes a search database having representations of the piping systems and its related components. A method of isolating an event within a facility is also disclosed. The method includes identifying the location of an event in the facility, performing a search to identify the impacted piping systems and related components, and identifying measures to isolate the event.

Claims

1. A method of isolating an event in a facility, wherein the facility includes a piping system having at least one pipeband extending across a portion of the facility, wherein each pipeband contains at least one piping line, wherein each piping line containing piping through which a substance flows therethough and at least one piping device, wherein the facility includes at least one facility unit and at least one land based identifier, comprising:

identifying the occurrence of an event;

identifying the location of the event in the facility including identifying at least one of the pipeband, the piping line, the facility unit and the land based identifier at the location of the event;

performing a search of a searchable electronic database to identify each of the pipebands and facility units impacted by the occurrence of the event, wherein the searchable electronic database containing at least one representation of the facility containing the location of each pipeband, each facility unit and each land based identifier, at least one representation of each piping line, and at least one cut sheet for each of the at least one pipeband, wherein each cut sheet illustrating the at least one piping line extending through the pipeband at the particular location of the cut sheet in the facility and the location of the piping line with respect to other piping lines within the pipeband at the particular location of the cut sheet, wherein each representation of a piping line is electronically linked to the each cut sheet in which such piping line appears, wherein each cut sheet is electronically linked to each representation of a piping line within the pipeband at the particular location of the cut sheet, wherein performing a search of the searchable electronic database includes searching at least one of the at least one representation of the facility, the at least one representation of each piping line, and the at least one cut sheet for each of the at least one pipeband based upon the identification of at least one of the pipeband, piping line, a facility unit and a land based identifier at the location of the event to identify each of the pipebands and facility units impacted by the event; and

identifying measures to isolate the event based upon each of the identified pipebands and facility units.

2. The method of isolating an event according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing the measures to isolate the event.

3. The method of isolating an event according to claim 2, wherein performing the measures to isolate the event includes operating at least one piping device.

4. The method of isolating an event according to claim 1, wherein identifying measures to isolate the event includes identifying one of a safety perimeter and at least one piping device.

5. The method of isolating an event according to claim 1, wherein the event is one of an emergency event and a non-emergency event.

6. The method of isolating an event according to claim 1, wherein identifying measures to isolate the event includes identifying any primary and secondary valves associated with each piping line in an identified pipeband to isolate each of the piping lines.

7. The method of isolating an event according to claim 2, wherein identifying measures to isolate the event includes identifying any primary and secondary valves associated with each piping line in an identified pipeband to isolate each of the piping lines.

8. The method of isolating an event according to claim 7, wherein performing the measures to isolate the event includes operating at least of the primary and secondary valves to isolate the piping line.

9. The method of isolating an event according to claim 2, wherein performing the measures to isolate the event includes controlling the operation of the identified facility unit.