Pipeline Operation Research Articles

Experience in construction and operation of sewerage networks in areas with deep seasonal ground freezing across different regions of the Russian Federation

Reviewing the experience in construction and operation of sewerage networks in areas with deep seasonal ground freezing across different regions of the Russian Federation. Methods: analyzing the sewer pipeline laying, in-situ observations of wastewater temperature regime at sewer outlets from residential buildings. Results: designs of sewer pipelines laid in different regions are presented, as well as their dependence on the depth of seasonal ground freezing in different regions of the Russian Federation. The actual values of sewage water temperature at sewage outlets from residential buildings are established. Practical significance: In a number of regions the laying of sewerage pipes at a depth of 1.5-1.8 m led to normal and stable operation of sewerage pipelines. In terms of capital expenditures, sewer pipelines account for more than 50% of the estimated cost of the entire wastewater disposal system. Their operation claims a significant share of the costs.

Challenges and opportunities of automated data pipelines for environmental sustainability applications in industrial manufacturing

Energy efficiency analyses and life cycle assessments are two examples of data-driven applications focused on environmental sustainability in the industrial manufacturing context. Both use methodologies based on aggregating operational data, extracted from multiple data sources along a value chain. However, the possibility to source, utilize, and share data is often obstructed by heterogeneous or non-transparent data operations across organizations, as well as poor availability of digital interfaces for data collection. In practice, the underlying application processes lack fidelity and granularity, as a trade-of to simplify the modeling and data collection tasks. Therefore, new opportunities arise for automated workflows on data collection (data pipelines) as a relevant component of every digital transformation strategy. This study reflects on the challenges experienced by two industrial actors collecting operational data for an energy efficiency analysis and a Life-cycle Assessment (LCA), each with a different manufacturing context and architectural approach. Finally, it presents the opportunities for new technologies at affordable costs that potentially ease the development and operation of data pipelines to solve such challenges.

Analysis Model of Crack Arrest for Supercritical CO2 Pipelines Containing Impurities

CO2 transport pipelines, as a critical link in CCUS technology, are more prone to fracture propagation under the effects of environment and high pressure due to the special characteristics of CO2, resulting in ductile fracture incidents. However, the commonly used original Batelle two curves method (BTCM) has large errors applied to CO2 pipelines containing impurities. In this paper, a corrected BTCM based on a hoop stress calibration factor was proposed to evaluate the crack arrest ability of CO2 pipelines. The reliability of the modified model was verified based on the experiments data. The results show that the GERG-2008 equation of state is more suitable in predication of decompression wave velocity, and fracture propagation velocity model with a correction factor of ccf =2.0 was verified in quite good agreement with experiment results. This corrected BTCM that can be directly applied to engineering, provided theoretical basis and suggestions in the design and safe operation of CO2 pipelines containing impurities.

Tracking and Localization Method of Pipeline Pigs Based on a Noise Reduction Autoencoder

In the pigging operation of an oil pipeline, the traditional pigging localization method can only achieve fixed-point detection and cannot track continuously. To ensure the normal operation of the pigging operation and track and locate the pig in a timely manner, a tracking and localization method of an oil pipeline pig based on a noise reduction autoencoder is proposed. First, using the advantages of U-Net (U-shaped Convolutional Neural Network) multi-scale feature extraction, combined with coding and residual-dense blocks, U-Net combined with Residual Dense Block U-shaped Network (RDBU) was proposed for noise reduction, and then real-time localization was calculated out based on the negative pressure wave localization formula of pigs. The experimental results show that, compared with the traditional method, the SNR of the RDBU is increased by 0.9dB and the root mean square error is reduced by 14.92%. The denoising algorithm in this paper can effectively eliminate the noise of the negative pressure wave signal of pigs.

Numerical simulation and thermal analysis of ecological energy-saving ground source heat pump design

By constructing the heat transfer model of the buried tube heat exchanger, using the mathematical method and numerical calculation software, the temperature of the buried tube heat exchanger is calculated numerical, so as to better understand the temperature effect of the buried tube heat exchanger on the surrounding soil. This paper establishes a mathematical model of a vertically buried heat transfer system based on the principle of thermal equilibrium and the thermal conductivity differential equation. Conduct research on the temperature field around single pipes in different soil (geological conditions), temperature field under different drilling backfill materials, and the temperature around buried pipelines in both short-term and long-term operation of the system. The experimental results show that the simulation results of the system?s short time (10 days) and long time (90 days) performance show that the cooling and temperature cycles in different areas directly affect the heat radius of the buried pipe and the heat accumulation near the buried pipe. The thermal action radius of the short-term operation system is about 1.8 m, and the long-term operation reaches 4.5 m.

The Role of Kubernetes in Automating Data Pipeline Operations: From Development to Monitoring

The Role of Kubernetes in Automating Data Pipeline Operations: From Development to Monitoring

A review on hazards and risks to pipeline operation under transporting hydrogen energy and hydrogen-mixed natural gas

As an efficient and clean fuel, hydrogen energy plays an important role in relieving the energy crisis and achieving the orientation of zero carbon emissions. Transportation is the key link in the construction of hydrogen energy infrastructure. For large-scale and long-distance transportation of hydrogen, pipeline transportation has the advantages of high efficiency and cost saving. While using the existing natural gas pipeline to transport hydrogen, it would economize the economic cost, time cost and labor cost. However, the transportation of hydrogen may bring more hazards and risks. Based on the investigation of a large number of literatures, the research advance in hydrogen embrittlement, leakage, combustion and explosion risk of hydrogen and hydrogen-mixed natural gas pipelines was reviewed. The mechanism, research means and evaluation methods of hydrogen embrittlement, as well as the experimental and numerical simulation research results of leakage, combustion and explosion were discussed in detail. The definite and important conclusions include: (1) For buried hydrogen-mixed natural gas transportation pipeline, the leakage rate of hydrogen and methane is the same, the formation of the leakage crater is foreign to the nature of leakage gas. (2) When adding less than 25 volume percentage of hydrogen into the natural gas pipelines, the explosion risk would not be increased. Future research should focus on the risk prediction, quantitative risk assessment, intelligent monitoring, and explosion-suppression technical measures of hydrogen and hydrogen-mixed natural gas transportation pipelines, so as to establish comprehensive and multi-level pipeline safety protection barriers.

Non-linear AUV Controller Design Using Logic-Based Switching PID Control

The inspection of pipes without stopping pipeline operations is of industrial interest due to the inherent economic benefits. A pipe inspection robot design is proposed together with a suitable motion controller. The proposed robot is an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) architecture that does not require shunting, draining or unearthing pipework for inspection purposes. This posed the challenge of controlling the AUV through a narrow pipe where manouvers are restricted. A set of general non-linear equations of motion were identified and refined using existing research and strip theory. The non-linear analytical model was implemented in Simulink to enable real-time monitoring and controller tuning. A non-linear controller based on a combination of classical PID theory and switching logic was developed to control the platform. The controller was transplanted into a Hardware-in-Loop (HIL) testing model developed with the Arduino and Simulink software suites. Pool tests measuring the parameters pitch and yaw angles showed that when operated independently with a 5° input, the maximum overshoot was 0.5° or 10% of the command value with a maximum angular velocity of 1.25°/s. When operated simultaneously, the overshoot rose to 30% with a constant error in the region of 1° over the target. Distance readings conducted with ultrasonic sensors to the pipe wall showed constant Sway-Heave bias errors from the centerline as −5 mm, and 4 mm, respectively, with an error range of 4 mm / −7 mm for Sway and 6 mm/ −4 mm for Heave. Pitch and heave motions were up to 18% faster than yaw and sway motions due to actuator orientation, with speeds of 6.25°/s and 40.57 mm/s, respectively. Despite the turbulence present during tests, the controller successfully drove the AUV to target positions through active flow and presented a reasonable basis for further refinement.

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ ИМИТАЦИОННОГО МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЯ ДЛЯ ОЦЕНКИ ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИОННОЙ НАДЕЖНОСТИ МОРСКИХ ПРОМЫСЛОВЫХ ТРУБОПРОВОДОВ В АРКТИКЕ

When designing pipelines intended for operation in Arctic conditions, in addition to the use of traditional reliability criteria, it is proposed to take into account the ability of the structure to resist damage and the development of local failures into a global accident, which in technology is called « robustness». The article uses the Monte-Carlo method to assess the robustness of an offshore pipeline operating in Arctic conditions with long periods of autonomy to the effects of internal corrosion. The degree of influence of the parameters of technical and organizational safety barriers on the values of robustness criteria is determined.

Literature Review on Integrity Management of Subsea Pipelines Operating Beyond Design Life

Literature Review on Integrity Management of Subsea Pipelines Operating Beyond Design Life

Assignment of initial parameters and boundary conditions for modeling thermal state of underground pipelines in a zone of progression of island permafrost soils

Relevance. Determined by the importance of predictive modeling of thermal state of pipeline transport facilities located in the permafrost zone. Prediction of geocryological effects is possible through computer simulation of heat and mechanical interactions between a pipeline and a soil medium. Such simulators use data on climatic and geocryological conditions and processes, as well as the information about design and process-dependent parameters of the pipeline, data on its spatial positioning. The presence of various factors influencing heat and mass transfer, as well as the complexity of their numerical simulation, can lead to incorrect design decisions. Such decisions in their turn are always associated with a loss of mechanical safety in an underground pipeline operation. To eliminate this design problem, it is necessary to correctly take into account and adopt the most relevant methods for modeling processes and soil characteristics. Aim. To conduct an analytical comparison of the results of thermal engineering calculations of one section of the route with insular permafrost in order to identify the influence of the model initial parameters on the stress-strain state of the pipeline. Methods. Analyzing the results of engineering surveys for the object of study, conducting a number of numerical calculations, and factorial comparison of the calculation results. Results. At the first stage, the authors have selected the route section of the underground pipeline corresponding to the purpose of the research, the factors influencing the results of thermal modeling. These factors will be considered in this study. At the second stage, the authors carried out modeling of 30 calculation models of one route section with a different set of input data. A factorial comparison of the effect of heat engineering calculation on the results was carried out. At the last stage, the authors carried out the strength calculations of all options for the selected section of the pipeline route as a resulting indicator of the influence of factors.

Experimental study of decompression wave characteristics and steel pipe applicability of supercritical CO2 pipeline

High-strength pipeline steel is the optimal choice for continuously transporting large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the future Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) industrial chain, and supercritical CO2 (S–CO2) is the ideal phase state from an emitter to an onshore storage site. In CCUS projects, it is very indispensable to carry out the suitability of high steel-grade pipelines to ensure the safe operation of pipelines. It is considered a catastrophic incident for creatures and equipment once pipeline failure when fractures or propagation occurs. In this paper, the fracture propagation velocity of X70, X80, and X90 pipeline materials is calculated base on the high strength line pipe (HLP). Meanwhile, three sets of full-bore fracture (FBR) experiments of S–CO2 pipelines were conducted with similar initial status on an industrial-scale setup, and the decompression wave velocity was obtained with the data acquisition system. The result shows that the initial decompression wave velocity of S–CO2 is about 270 m/s, and the pressure plateau is between 6.8 and 7.3 MPa, corresponding to the decompression wave velocity, which is about in the range of 100–220 m/s. After that, the decompression wave velocity prediction model was established based on the homogeneous equilibrium method (HEM) and the equation of state (Eos), and the prediction results are more conservative than the experimental results. To ensure that the pipeline will not ductilely fracture in the event of a leakage or rupture, X70, X80 and X90 grade steel pipeline design wall thickness and minimum arrest toughness values are determined based on the two-curve method (TCM), respectively. Furthermore, a CO2 pipeline design model is developed based on the experimental data and decompression wave calculation method. The significant experimental data could be used for safety assessment and theoretical model validation in the CO2 transport pipeline and is useful in developing better fracture control models.

ИНСТРУМЕНТЫ ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИИ В ПРАКТИКЕ ПРОЕКТИРОВАНИЯ ПРИ РЕКОНСТРУКЦИИ ПОДЗЕМНЫХ ТРУБОПРОВОДОВ БЕСТРАНШЕЙНЫМИ МЕТОДАМИ

The article focuses on the possibilities of multi-optional design of repair and rehabilitation works on dilapidated pressure pipeline networks with the use of automated complexes in order to achieve minimum energy costs in water transportation with regard to the temperature factor. Two automated programs based on hydraulic and energy calculation operations are presented as digital tools. As a basic variant of reconstruction of dilapidated pipelines, the trenchless Swagelining technology was accepted. It is realized by pulling pre-compressed polymer pipes into old pipelines with their subsequent straightening. The paper presents information on regulatory and technical documentation and the application of advanced technology, installation and operation conditions, as well as comparative assessment of energy consumption after reconstruction of dilapidated sections of pipelines with polymer pipes with the possibility of minimizing energy consumption during water transportation under non-isothermal conditions of pipeline operation.

Estimating the line packing time for pipelines transporting carbon dioxide

During the operation of pressurised pipelines transporting compressible fluids, line packing is employed as an effective method that uses the pipeline itself as a buffer storage, compensating for fluctuations in the fluid supply or demand. While in large-capacity natural gas transmission systems, reaching maximum operating pressures during line packing is usually not of practical concern, in small capacity pipelines transporting low-compressibility fluids, such as liquid or dense-phase CO2, line packing can occur quickly, and therefore, estimating the line packing times becomes important to ensure avoiding exceeding the pipeline maximum allowable operating pressure. In this study, a correlation for estimating the line packing time is derived from the transient mass balance in the pipeline. The proposed correlation accounts for the pipeline overall dimensions, operating pressure and temperature, and the fluid properties, namely density and the expansion coefficient. The correlation is also adopted for the calculation of pipeline unpacking times caused by unbalanced discharge from a pipeline. A verification study on line packing in a dense-phase CO2 pipeline shows that within the ranges tested, the proposed correlation estimates conservatively the line packing times with ca. 15 % deviation from the results of simulations obtained using a rigorous transient pipeline flow model. The proposed correlation is also verified against predictions obtained using a parabolic flow model and is recommended for estimating line packing times for both dense-phase and gas-phase CO2 at pressures and temperatures in the ranges 2 - 12 MPa and 280 – 330 K, respectively. The limitations of the proposed line packing time correlation are discussed.

An integrated MINLP model for multi-party coordination in downstream oil supply chain

Cooperation among enterprises can bring overall and individual performance improvement, and a smooth coordination method is indispensable. However, due to the lack of customized coordination methods, cooperation in the downstream oil supply chain cannot be carried out smoothly. This paper intends to propose a multi-party coordination method to promote cooperation between oil shippers and pipeline operator by optimizing oil transportation, oil substitution and pipeline pricing schemes. An integrated game-theoretic modeling and analysis approach is developed to characterize the operation behaviors of all stakeholders in the downstream oil supply chain. The proposed mixed integer nonlinear programming model constrains supply and demand capacity, transportation routes, oil substitution rules and pipeline freight levels. Logarithm transformation and price discretization are introduced for model linear approximation. Simulation experiments are carried out in the oil distribution system in South China. The results show that compared to the business-as-usual scheme, the new scheme saves transportation cost by 3.48%, increases pipeline turnover by 5.7%, and reduces energy consumption and emissions by 7.66% and 6.77%. It is proved that the proposed method improves the revenue of the whole system, achieves fair revenue distribution, and also improves the energy and environmental benefits of the oil supply chain.

APPROACH TO THE SELECTION OF TYPES OF POLYMER-COMPOSITE PIPES FOR FIELD PIPELINES

The work is devoted to the use of polymer-composite pipes (PCP) in the field conditions of the oil and gas industry. Based on a review of existing types of non-metallic pipes of various designs used for the construction of field pipelines, a knowledge base of current technological solutions has been formed and their advantages and disadvantages have been identified. A catalog of technological solutions for field pipelines has been developed, which includes a description of the designs of PCP with their technical characteristics necessary for the design and operation of field pipelines. An applicability matrix has been developed that allows one to determine suitable types and designs of PCP according to technical principles for pipeline construction under certain conditions. The selection criteria are pipe sizes, operating parameters (pressure and temperature), service life, pumped media, purpose of the pipeline and resistance to aggressive media (CO2, H2S). If the PCP meets the specified conditions, this product is included in the matrix for further use in the construction and operation of the pipeline. However, in order to be able to equip fields with pipelines made of polymer-composite materials, it is necessary that solutions made from PCP are not only technically sound, but also economically justified in comparison with steel pipes. One of the main results of this study is the development of a feasibility study methodology (FS) of applicability, which allows us to determine the most effective option for the design and operation of pipelines made of PCP based on a comparison of economic indicators. The methodology was based on a comparison of the cost of steel and polymer-composite products, the cost of construction and installation work and the speed of their implementation, the cost of maintaining pipelines during operation, as well as the costs associated with pipe failures - to eliminate their consequences.
 As part of the study, the accident rate of steel and polymer-composite pipes was also analyzed and studied, on the basis of which a methodology for predicting accident rates for PCP was created.
 Finally, conclusions are made about the possibility of using the developed tools in the oil and gas industry.

Dynamic-Distance-Based Thresholding for UAV-Based Face Verification Algorithms.

Face verification, crucial for identity authentication and access control in our digital society, faces significant challenges when comparing images taken in diverse environments, which vary in terms of distance, angle, and lighting conditions. These disparities often lead to decreased accuracy due to significant resolution changes. This paper introduces an adaptive face verification solution tailored for diverse conditions, particularly focusing on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based public safety applications. Our approach features an innovative adaptive verification threshold algorithm and an optimised operation pipeline, specifically designed to accommodate varying distances between the UAV and the human subject. The proposed solution is implemented based on a UAV platform and empirically compared with several state-of-the-art solutions. Empirical results have shown that an improvement of 15% in accuracy can be achieved.

An open-source cloud-based procedure for MODIS remote sensing products: The nasawebservicepython package

Living in the era of “big data” demands an increase in the application and development of solutions for data ingestion in agroecological research, both in the private and public sectors. Among available data sources, satellite imagery is a viable solution to acquire large amounts of data at cheaper costs. Although cloud-based commercially distributed services are flourishing, open-source software able to assist practitioners and researchers in downloading and pre-processing satellite imagery is strongly demanded by the remote sensing community. This is especially true when looking at applications developed in Python, a programming language that quickly gained popularity in agroecological science. In this letter, we introduce nasawebservice version 1.0.0, a Python Package designed to automatically collect remotely sensed data from the NASA MODIS/VIIRS Land Products web service. The nasawebservice package contains a set of classes and methods to facilitate download operations for practitioners and researchers and to implement user-friendly data ingestion pipelines in local and cloud environments. The main advantage of nasawebservice is the reduction of pre-processing operations to use satellite images due to getting the data in JSON format, with consequent saving of computational time for large data download and analytic operational pipelines.

Design Parameters Investigation on Sand Transportation Characteristics of V-Inclined Pipe Based on Eulerian–Eulerian Two-Phase Flow Model

During the operation of the water transportation pipelines in the upstream of the Yellow River, varying degrees of sand deposition often occur under a low flow rate. Taking into account the effect of different pipe inclinations, pipe diameters, and inlet sand content, the Eulerian–Eulerian two-phase model was applied in the numerical simulation of sediment-laden flow in a V-inclined pipe. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between a V-inclined pipe and horizontal pipe affected by gravity. Compared with the downward inclined pipe, sand deposition is evident in the upward inclined pipe. The high-velocity region moves upward and the asymmetry of the cross-sectional velocity increases. As the pipe diameter increases, the interaction between sand and the wall as well as the degree of turbulence decrease, so that the distribution of sand volume concentration across the cross section will be more uniform. Under different inlet sand content, the lowest point of the pipe experiences the most sand deposition, with sand volume concentration and velocity distribution across the cross-sections becoming uneven as inlet sand content increases. The location of the maximum liquid velocity varies from section to section. When the inlet sand content increases from 0.42% to 5%, the liquid velocity of the pipe cross-section no longer satisfies the rule of high velocity for middle and low velocity near the wall.

Real-Time Synchronous Acquisition and Processing of Signal in Coherent Doppler Wind Lidar Using FPGA

Coherent Doppler wind lidar has become a primary remote sensing technique for measuring atmospheric wind fields in recent years. However, the high bandwidth of the time domain echo signal has limited real-time data acquisition and processing. In this work, we propose a real-time data acquisition and preprocessing integrated solution. This approach is implemented using on-chip system field programmable gate array (FPGA) hardware while utilizing a 7-channel base-4 polyphase fast Fourier transform calculation module and a pipelined structure operation. Within a 1 s data collection time, the real-time rapid acquisition and spectral preprocessing of lidar echo signals at a range of 9.9 km can be achieved. We compare the observation data with the measurement data from Windcube100s and radiosondes, and the results indicate that the coherent wind lidar developed in this paper can detect heights above 4.0 km, with effective data acquisition rates of 82% and 61% in the height ranges of 1500–2000 m and 2000–2500 m, respectively. At the height range of 3.5 km, the correlations for horizontal wind speed and direction measured by the lidar were all above 0.99, with the wind speed and direction measurement deviations being better than 0.56 m/s and 8.40∘, respectively.