Oil Transportation System Research Articles

Modification of Mode Parameters of Main Oil Pipelines under the Condition of Depressurizing

The characteristics of Ukrainian oil transportation system are presented; the emergency risks of Ukrainian oil pipelines are established. The analysis of the accident rate of oil pipeline transportation in Ukraine, Russia and the USA was carried out. The processes of initiation and progression of man-made emergencies in Ukraine during the oil pipelines operation are considered. The article presents the technique of specifying the incidental pressure in a pipeline, depending on the amount of oil loss at the site of oil leaks. It gives an opportunity to calculate the amount of oil loss and to evaluate the environmental hazards caused by oil pipeline transportation emergencies. It is based on the equations of motion and continuity of fluid flow. This technique makes it possible to calculate the pressure at each point of a pipeline in transient mode caused by changes in pressure at the beginning and at the end of the section and the emergence of concentrated oil offtake. It also gives an opportunity to monitor the change in mode parameters along the pipeline under conditions of pipeline depressurization. Maximum discrepancy in calculation results becomes typical when the range of fluctuations is maximal. It has been established that discrepancy increases when the distance from the source of perturbation becomes bigger. The discrepancy in calculation results is practically non-existent for the pressure fluctuations at the point of perturbation start (). Based on the results of calculations, the author constructs a graph of pressure change of the oscillatory process in the oil pipeline caused by the jump in the pressure at the beginning and at the end of the section, and the presence of probable leaks at the certain point of the pipeline route. The line section of the main oil pipelines is the most dangerous part since all emergencies are associated with emergency processes of different intensity in the form of outflow of oil into the environment, and are dangerous because of system breakdowns can take place. Both the process of the generation of the oil pollution zone and its time period depend on the amount of oil leakage, its intensity and depth of the oil pipeline.

Increasing analyzable steel thickness for thin layer activation experiments

The thin layer activation technique (TLA) is very effective in wear analysis for tribological systems where disassembly is costly or impractical. Since its development in the 1970s, TLA has been applied through direct irradiation of solid targets using ionizing particle beams to obtain an activation with a specific profile. This profile is then used to measure wear in a variety of experiments. These experiments rely heavily on how deep the normalized activation occurs. Depths of $$30\,\upmu {\text{m}}$$ to $$50\,\upmu {\text{m}}$$ are obtained for constant activation by the standard method, which for many experiments is sufficient. However, many others would benefit greatly from a $$300\,\upmu {\text{m}}$$ constant activation layer, such as high-performance engines, softer alloys (brakes), and oil transport systems. Achieving this aim was the goal of this paper. First, we needed to find an adequate irradiation line for the TLA technique. Then, another technique/system was developed (the Attenuation Wheel), which would bring the depth of constant activation from $$50\,\upmu {\text{m}}$$ to $$300\,\upmu {\text{m}}$$.

Exergy analysis of crude oil gathering and transportation system by 'three box' model

'Three box' exergy analysis optimisation method is applied to oil field system in order to identify and improve the weak links of crude oil gathering and transportation system. The universal 'black box', 'white box', 'grey box' models and balance equations of oil field analysis are established according to different requirements of rough, fine and sub-fine analysis. The weak link of energy utilisation is determined. The heating furnace is identified as the lowest exergy efficiency equipment in crude oil gathering and transportation system, which can provide a theoretical basis and scientific method for improving system energy efficiency.

Exergoeconomic pricing strategy of crude oil gathering and transportation system

Taking a typical oil transfer station in eastern China as an example in this paper, exergy economics theory in algebraic pattern is applied to the energy system of the oil transfer station on the b...

Exergy analysis of crude oil gathering and transportation system by 'three box' model

Exergy analysis of crude oil gathering and transportation system by 'three box' model

Coastal Shuttle Tanker Scheduling Model Considering Inventory Cost and System Reliability

The near-sea off-shore oil extraction and transportation system use heterogeneous fleets to transfer crude oil from the floating production storage and offloading to the land-based oil storage port. Based on the characteristics of this system, the short sea inventory routing problem is investigated considering the shuttle tanker fleet and inventory management. In order to minimize the total operation cost and maximize the system reliability, a semi-continuous model for the shuttle tanker scheduling problem is established. The model optimizes the tanker scheduling plan and the design of the tanker fleet. To solve the complex model, this article proposes an improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm with differential evolution operator to solve the optimization of the multi-objective model. This research also uses public vessel operation data to test the modeling and optimizing efficiency. The Pareto Fronts associated with the total operation cost and the system reliability from the optimization outcome is analyzed to provide scheduling priority advice. The results indicate that proposed optimization algorithms are effective, and the operation could be optimized with the proposed model and algorithm.

Modeling of Integrated Energy System of Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms Considering Couplings Between Energy Supply System and Oil and Gas Production System

The integrated energy system (IES) of offshore oil and gas platforms is a complex energy intensive system, which is composed of energy supply system (ESS), oil and gas production system (OGPS), diesel oil supply system (DOSS) and oil storage and transportation system (OSTS). Among them, ESS and OGPS are closely coupled and show a trend on stronger coupling due to implementation of new technologies, such as waste heat recovery and associated gas utilization. In order to reduce the operating cost and carbon emissions, an optimal operation model that considers their couplings is proposed. Firstly, based on the standardized matrix modeling method, subsystems inside OGPS and ESS are modeled individually and then combined, through which the model of the whole IES can be built. Then, representing this model as constraints, the optimal operation model of offshore oil and gas platforms' IES is proposed, together with constraints representing operational limitations of subsystems. Particularly, in the proposed model, couplings on heat, associated gas and electrical energy between OGPS and ESS are modeled, and hybrid energy storage system (HESS) is considered in modeling ESS, which is able to coordinate associated gas storage (AGS) and electricity storage (ES) in the optimal operation.

Exergoeconomic pricing strategy of crude oil gathering and transportation system

Exergoeconomic pricing strategy of crude oil gathering and transportation system

Organizing an oil transportation system in the Arctic

Development of the Arctic has become the subject of intense attention due to the region’s vast hydrocarbon resources. However, severe environmental conditions and large distances greatly increase the development costs. Because of this, it is crucial to organize rational logistics routes within the Arctic communications system. In recent years, Russia has been taking on a leading role in transportation of hydrocarbons, including oil; there is growing demand from the global community for steady supply of Russian crude oil and petroleum products. At the same time, difficult weather and ice conditions along with poor infrastructure make it a challenge to establish a system for offshore transportation of oil in the Arctic. The paper reviews the Russian experience of sea transportation of oil from the Pechora Sea and the Gulf of Ob, describing a scheme using modern shuttle tankers of reinforced ice class. Apparently, ice tankers of Arc6 and Arc7 classes can be used with virtually no assistance from icebreakers provided that ice conditions are relatively favorable. The unique experience of cooperation in transportation projects accumulated by Russian oil and gas operators, shipping and shipbuilding companies, and financial organizations should prove useful for further development of natural resources of the Arctic.

An experimental investigation of the interface behavior of slug flow in horizontal pipe

The simultaneous gas-liquid slug flow phenomena often occur in the industrial production such as the gas or oil transportation system. The research on the gas-liquid interface is essential to the safety design of industrial piping systems and the comprehension of flow mechanism. However, most of the researches on slug flow are only concentrated on the spatial domain parameters of slug bubble and seldom consider the frequency domain characteristics. In this paper, a series of experiments were performed to investigate the influence of gas and liquid phases on the interface shape of slug flow. The results show that the increase of gas or liquid superficial velocity has an opposite effect on the interface shape of slug flow. Moreover, the breakup of slug bubble tail was observed in the slug flow, and the breakup mechanism was developed based on the analysis of the frequency distribution of gas-liquid interface. Finally, the maximum spectral amplitude was presented as a new interface parameter to characterize the interface distribution of slug flow, and a correlation between the gas-liquid superficial velocity and the maximum spectral amplitude was established, which can further reveal the relationship between the interface behavior and the flow velocity.

Research on Stability Analysis of Bonded Flexible Submarine Pipeline

As an important part of underwater oil and gas transportation system, the in-situ stability of submarine pipelines is particularly important. Comparing with steel pipe, flexible pipe has the advantages of high strength, corrosion resistance, light weight, coil supply and laying. In this paper, the finite element software ABAQUS is used to calculate the initial in-situ stress balance of soil, pipe weight, internal pressure load analysis and horizontal buckling simulation. The transverse horizontal displacement and stress distribution under high temperature and high pressure in flexible pipeline operation are calculated. The results show that the temperature difference and pressure difference in pipeline operation are the main causes of pipeline failure. The results show that the relevant parameters of seabed soil have different effects on pipeline failure, and the friction coefficient of soil and pipeline is more obvious.

DIVERSIFICATION OF TRANSIT RISKS OF OIL SUPPLIES BYPASSING UKRAINE AS THE BASIS OF ENERGY SECURITY IN EUROPE

The article assesses and analyzes the dependence of the economic security of the European Union on the transit risks of oil, the difficulties of its transportation and diversification of its supplies. The oil transportation system of Ukraine is currently a source of high risks for the EU countries because the political and economic instability of the country does not provide confidence in obtaining the planned supply contracts. To diversify oil transit risks, the following ways were identified: Baltic Pipeline System-1, Baltic Pipeline System-2, Caspian Pipeline Consortium-1 (CPC-1), Caspian Pipeline Consortium-2 (CPC-2). At that, the implementation of the latter will reduce transit risks to a minimum level by diversifying oil supplies from Russia to the EU countries. The use of the Druzhba Oil Pipeline and the Odessa-Brody Oil Pipeline increases the transit risks for the EU countries since they pass through the territory of Ukraine, which is characterized by political and economic instability. In the methodological part of the article, an assessment of oil consumption in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe was carried out, which had shown a slight decrease in Russian oil consumption just in some countries, while sustainable consumption in general. Oil supplies to Ukraine are significantly reduced that further increases the transit risk.

Detection of pipeline blockage using lab experiment and computational fluid dynamic simulation

Pipeline blockage, which results from solid and hydrocarbon deposition caused by changes in pressure, temperature, or composition, is a critical issue in oil and gas production and transportation systems. Sometimes blockage, which extends several miles in the long-distance pipe, can be approximated as a pipe with a smaller diameter. While the earlier work focused on treating pipeline blockage as a choke for its limited size and length, this study attempts to analyze the relationship between the pressure distribution and the blockage size/length when analyzing the blockage characteristics under different situations. This paper explores the distribution of pressure and pressure gradient around the pipeline blockage under different operating conditions. Three-dimension (3D) computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations under steady-state are carried out to examine the effects of blockage diameter, blockage length, and blockage location. The relationship between the pressure drop and blockage characterization is predicted. A forecasting model for blockage sensing and localization is proposed. Lab experiments are conducted to compare the simulation results to measured data and the accuracy of forecasting model is evaluated. The study indicates that CFD simulation results match the experiment data and the model is a useful tool in detection of pipeline blockage.

A holistic MILP model for scheduling and inventory management of a multiproduct oil distribution system

This paper addresses the optimal scheduling of an oil transportation system characterized by a straight multiproduct pipeline featuring multiple input and output nodes, where products are dispatched to local markets often by tanker trucks. We present a new continuous-time mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model that is designed based on real-world necessities and that requires significantly fewer binary variables than previous work. As main contributions, the model: i) can rigorously avoid forbidden product sequences in every pipeline segment; ii) considers filler batch constraints to avoid large contamination volumes; and iii) includes inventory management constraints in the different pipeline nodes. We first use an illustrative example before testing the approach with a new large-scale example problem and three real-world cases from the literature. Results show that the proposed model has a tight linear programming (LP) relaxation and is very efficient computationally. It is thus a significant contribution to the state-of-the-art.

FLOW CAPACITY OF MAIN OIL PIPELINES WITH PREDEFINED OIL PUMPING STATIONS LOCATION WITH PERIODICAL PARTIAL OIL DUMPING

Transportation of oil via main pipelines often requires the need for a permanent or periodic dumping of some part of the flow for further shipment of crude oil to oil refineries or filling stations. The application of such technology leads to a change in the operating mode of oil pumping stations and the oil transportation system in general. In case of emergency, an analogue of dumping is an oil leak from the pipeline in a case of violation of its integrity. Resetting a part of the flow is accompanied by a change in a liquid flow ahead of and behind the discharge point, which inevitably leads to a redistribution of pressures at the inlet and outlet of transitional petroleum pumping stations. Increasing of pressure at the output of the stations may lead to the violation of the pipeline strength; reducing of input shoring may cause cavitation operating modes of the equipment. Therefore, the study of the impact of discharges on the parameters of the operation of oil transportation systems in order to ensure their reliable, safe and economically efficient functioning is a relevant point of this area. For this purpose, based on the proposed calculated algorithms implemented in the software, the authors conducted the research on the impact of periodic oil discharges on the redistribution of hydraulic flows, energy losses at the bends, pressure at the inlet and outlet of oil pumping stations, as well as the volume of trunk oil pipelines capacity. The approbation of the proposed elaboration is carried out by defining the operational parameters of processing in functioning of oil and transport system «Druzhba» at the Mozyr-Tukholsky pass, which runs throughout the territory of Ukraine. Based on the analysis of the obtained results it was established that, depending on the volume of a discharge, the location of the limiting area, which limits the entry capacity of the trunk pipeline in general, might be changed. At the same time, the bend, ahead of which the part of oil is discharged, is not always limiting. Increasing the volume of a discharge leads to growing capacity of the pipeline at the area ahead of the point of discharge in the case when the limiting pipeline bend is behind the discharge point. If such a bend is located on the pipeline ahead of the discharge point, the increasing discharge does not affect the capacity of the initial area of the pipeline.

ABOUT CHANGE OF THE LEVEL OF OIL IN THE STORAGE FLOATING-ROOF TANKTHROUGH ATMOSPHERIC BURNERS

The authors analyze the main tendencies in the reconstruction and development of tank farms of the main oil transportation system in Ukraine, namely the use of large-volume tanks with a floating roof. The authors consider one of the reasons that can complicate the operation of such tanks that is the presence of liquid (in the form of rain) or solid (snow and ice) atmospheric precipitation on it, which leads to the additional immersion of the floating roof of the tank into oil. The literature on the exploitation of floating roof tanks has been analyzed and it is found out that there are practically no data of measurements on the basis of which it is possible to estimate the influence of liquid atmospheric precipitation on the depth of immersion of tank floating roofs. The article shows the topicality of the issue from the point of view of commodity-transport operations on oil metering. The authors show the results of measuring the oil levels in the tank with regular appliances in the presence and absence of rainwater on the floating roof (after drainage of the latter through the drainage system) and the results of their treatment in order to determine the difference in the accounted oil mass in the tank caused by the accumulation of water on the roof, taking into account oil physical properties and the data of processing of the gauge tables of the tank. The results of natural measurements are analyzed and a simplified method of calculating the depth of immersion of a roof in the presence of additional loads on it in the form of atmospheric precipitation is developed. The oil level in the tank was determined using a standard system of the ENRAF type, and the determination of oil volumes was done using the gauge table of the tank. Based on physical regularities, the authors derive theoretical dependencies to determine the amount of atmospheric moisture on the floating roof depending on the volume (changes of the oil levels) of water on it. It is shown how to calculate the minimum amount of atmospheric water on the roof, which leads to the need to introduce corrections while determining the mass of oil in the tank using a static volume-mass method. This research has proved the necessity of introducing corrections while determining the level of oil in the tanks with floating roofs when there is atmospheric precipitation on the roof.

Exergoeconomic analysis for crude oil gathering and transportation system in matrix pattern

AbstractBased on exergoeconomic theory, the energy consumption situation for a typical oil transfer station in eastern China is evaluated. According to the analysis of the distribution for logistics and exergy flow, the crude oil gathering and transportation system is divided into two subsystems: pipe network and oil transfer station. The unit exergoeconomic costs for each component exergy flow are calculated by computing method in matrix pattern, of which the pressure exergy and thermal exergy at the end of the process are 812.58 yuan/GJ and 1575.24 yuan/GJ, respectively. Simultaneously, exergoeconomic evaluation indicators such as exergy cost growth coefficient, relative cost difference, and exergoeconomic coefficient are calculated, which can conclude the weak link of technical system is heating furnace equipment. The growth value of its exergy cost growth coefficient is 14.988, the relative cost difference is 94.503, and the exergoeconomic coefficient is 9.046, so it has great potential for energy saving. Exergoeconomic analysis method can provide a scientific and effective method or basis during the energy‐saving reconstruction for oil gathering and transportation system.

Optimization parameters for circumferentially welded pipes

High strength and low alloy steels are commonly used in the manufacture of tubes, which are standardized by the API standard for oil and gas transport systems. The high yielding limits, high tenacity at low temperatures and the smaller thicknesses, allow the use of ducts with larger diameters and subjected to higher internal pressures, thus increasing their efficiency in the transport of fluids. This paper deals with the identification of the best temperatures applicable to stress relief and quenching and tempering treatments that optimize mechanical properties in circumferential welded joints, through Vickers traction and Charpy impact tests with V-notch “. In addition, the specimens will be characterized metallographically to correlate the mechanical and microstructural properties found in the different regions of the welded joint.

Oil refining and delivery in the Western European region

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the key trends in oil delivery and production and evaluate the capacities of crude oil transportation systems in the Western European region. Design/methodology/approach To meet these goals, qualitative data analysis was used to assess the contribution of countries in the region to the total crude oil production and delivery, the changes in concentration of crude oil deliveries and refineries’ capacities, the capabilities of the regional crude oil transportation system and the trends in crude oil supplies and processing from 2005 to 2015. Findings The study established that from 2013 to 2015 oil supply to the region’s refineries increased and generated additional stress on the transportation and refining infrastructure. Research limitations/implications This study examined the aggregate values of crude oil production, crude oil deliveries and refining capacities. In practice, different refineries are set to process certain types of crude oil. It is possible to use the described approach with a certain crude oil grade. Practical implications When developing the programmes for crude oil supply to refineries, it is vital to take into account the capacities of refineries and the capabilities of the crude oil transportation systems. Originality/value The study suggests that the region’s infrastructure has the necessary reserves to operate for the next few years without additional investments.

Visualization of integrated energy consumption optimization system for all-weather oil pipeline transportation

Due to the depression of oil pipeline transportation in recent years, the low transportation capacity has become a common situation, and the oil transfer pump unit cannot operate under rated conditions and is in a low efficiency area for a long time. In transportation, throttling is often carried out by adjusting the outlet valve, resulting in a large amount of energy loss. Therefore, in order to reduce the energy loss of the whole oil transportation system, including pumps and pipeline outlet valves, and realize energy saving and emission reduction of oil pipeline transportation, a visual all-weather oil pipeline transportation comprehensive energy consumption optimization system is developed, which includes a pipeline transportation experimental platform, a three-dimensional pipeline transportation virtual scene model, an energy consumption optimization mathematical model, a data display and analysis visual model, and can assist managers in formulating energy saving schemes for pipeline transportation operation and also provide virtual practical services for employee training[1].