WO2021100054A1

WO2021100054A1 - Method and device for monitoring the critical parameters of oil pipeline

Info

Publication number: WO2021100054A1
Application number: PCT/IN2020/050451
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lakshmi CH NARAYANA; Raj Lovi Gupta; Anita Gehlot; Rajesh Singh
Original assignee: Lovely Professional University
Priority date: 2019-11-22
Filing date: 2020-05-19
Publication date: 2021-05-27

Abstract

A novel system employed for monitoring various critical parameters of oil pipeline using IoT and LoRa. The system consists of monitoring, detection, communication and data analysis. Various smart wireless sensors are used to monitor critical parameters which are sent to 2.4 GHz RF controller board and LoRa controller board via signal condition and optimization. The data is communicated to servers via LoRa gate way. Various parameters like fire, leaks, corrosion are also detected and communicated to end user via LoRa gate way. In case of any abnormal issues found in data hooter, drones are activated from safety operation controller and drone yard.

Description

TITLE

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING THE CRITICAL PARAMETERS OF OIL PIPELINE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[01] The present invention relates to the field of monitoring system, and more particularly, to monitoring of oil pipelines using IoT and LoRa.

BACKGROUND

[02] Oil and gas industry is one of the biggest industries. This industry has three sectors upstream, midstream and downstream. These three sectors have large infrastructure to be maintained .Upstream has crude oil where oil will be taken from underground and refined. Midstream is to transport refined oil to different areas using pipelines, lorry’s and trains. Downstream consists of storage wells and petro pump stations etc.

[03] Controlling and monitoring these three sectors using wireless sensor networks play major role. Upstream sector uses WSN technology for taking oil from ground. Mid-stream sector requires WSN technology to maintain pipeline critical parameters like leakage detection, corrosion, temperature of oil maintenance, gauge pressure maintenance. Downstream sector utilizes WSN in refinery and store oil in wells. WSN technology overcomes the issues of wired sensor technology. However, WSN technology have disadvantages like Low band width, short distance communication, Short battery life time etc.

[04] The transportation by oil pipelines that owns many advantages such as safety, stability, lower cost, and higher efficiency. If pipelines are not well maintained, they may fail with potentially significant consequences that could have severe, long-term and irreversible impacts on both natural and human environment.

[05] The United States Department of Transportation reported more than 10,000 failures in O&G networks across the country which gave huge economic loss in early years. Based on the statistical results from 2010 to 2017, which includes 432 oil pipeline failures.

[06] In order to overcome the oil pipeline failures, it is required to build a reliable monitoring system so that critical parameters are taken care of at all the time.

[07] CN104794862A illustrates a natural gas pipeline real-time monitoring system based on Zigbee wireless communication technology. In this study lot technology is used to monitor pipeline. End sensors are placed on pipeline to measure leaks, temperature, and humidity. Zigbee, Wi-Fi wireless communication protocol is used to transfer data. Local servers are placed to acquire data. However, there are some limitations such as less distance coverage of Pipeline, safety operation controller is not available to alert workers and to control damages, locating pipeline damages is difficult, local servers are used to store data, and manual decision making system.

[08] US10094732B2 illustrates a pipeline fault detection system, sensor head and method of detecting pipeline faults. The system comprises a vibro- acoustic sensor connectable to a fluid path of a pipeline and a remote monitoring system, the sensor being operable to measure one or more predetermined vibro-acoustic properties of the fluid and/or fluid path and communicate data on said measurements to the remote monitoring system with 2.4Ghz communication protocol. However the disadvantages are less distance communication, one parameter is measured with complex system, fault location is limited.

[09] CN103047540B illustrates natural gas pipeline leak detection optical fiber sensing system. With leakage vibrating signals data is acquired. This technology gives flexibility of monitoring pipeline long distance from using optical amplifiers. The main disadvantages are only one parameter is covered to monitor, more costly with optical fiber cables, no wireless technology, third party damages for cable is high, no cloud server, customized application not designed. [0010] CN102840450A illustrates the monitoring system of an oilfield pipeline leakage monitoring system. The technical scheme is as follows: a video collecting head is arranged on the oilfield pipeline at an interval of a distance; collected images of every video collecting head are displayed respectively at a remote client, and respective geological position can be displayed at the same time. Video collecting and sharing technology is used. But the limitation of the invention are no sensing of Leaks so damage is more, video collecting and position locating is not effective, Short distance communication, safety alert system is not included, manual decision making system.

[0011] CN102305352B illustrates a modem digital signal processing method to monitor corrosion online monitoring system using wired and wireless communication and corrosion data is shared to monitoring center. The corrosion status normal or abnormal is decided by the real time corrosion monitoring system. However, major drawbacks are hardware complexity, corrosion monitoring section is not effective, short distance communication

[0012] WO2015095168A1 describes a wireless communication system for underground pipeline inspection. The system includes a plurality of sensor nodes moved by robots within the pipeline and each sensor node includes a radio transceiver. A plurality of spaced apart, above ground relay nodes are deployed along the pipeline, each relay node including a radio transceiver for communication with the sensor nodes. A remote monitoring center is provided in communication with the relay nodes, whereby a leak detected by a sensor node is communicated to the remote monitoring center. Wi-Fi technology is used to transfer data to end user. However, the drawbacks are only one or parameters are measured with complex system, not decision making system, and safety controllers are not provided.

[0013] However, the prior art does not use the methodology of the IoT and

LoRa for monitoring of oil pipelines. [0014] The present invention addresses the above mention short comings of the prior art.

SUMMARY

[0015] This summary provides a better technological solution by designing a device and methodology for monitoring the critical parameters of the oil pipelines.

[0016] The proposed system develops a unique architecture for monitoring critical parameters of pipeline, detection various parameters like fire, leaks, corrosion, communication via LoRa gate way and data analysis through hooter and drone.

[0017] In the proposed system, all critical parameters of oil pipeline are covered in one system using IoT and LoRa communication protocol.

[0018] The main highlight of this invention is drone yard. Drone yard plays a prominent role in inspecting pipeline. If any Hazardous situation occurred at pipeline monitoring, signals sent to drone yard via 2.4GHz module and drone is activated. Drone with camera is interfaced with microcontroller for pipeline inspection in hazardous situations. Drone captured images are sent to end user via LoRa gateway .Moreover Drones are responsible to monitor pipeline inspection to recognize unauthorized constructions near the pipeline since they may cause damages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawing.

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates the hybrid schematic diagram of LoRa and

2.4GHz RF modem for pipeline parameters monitoring in Oil field.

[0021] Figure 2 illustrates the flowchart of monitoring end devices.

[0022] Figure 3 illustrates the flowchart of detection sensors.

[0023] Figure 4 illustrates the flowchart of safety operation controller. [0024] Figure 5 illustrates the flowchart of LoRa Gateway.

[0025] Figure 6 illustrates the flowchart of Drone yard.

[0026] All the figures disclosed depict an embodiment of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration and better understanding only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail.

[0028] The scenario behind the invention is that all critical parameters of the oil pipelines have to be monitored in one system so as to ensure safety of the whole system.

[0029] The system consists of sections like monitoring, detection, communication and data analysis. In monitoring section critical parameters of pipeline should be measured. Various smart wireless sensors are used to monitor critical parameters. The monitored information is send to 2.4 GHz RF controller board and LoRa controller board via signal condition and optimization. Here sensors were embedded with LoRa board. Now the data will be communicated to servers via LoRa gate way. In detection section various parameters like fire, leaks, corrosion are be detected. The detected data is communicated to end user via LoRa gate way. If any abnormal issues found in data hooter and drone are activated from safety operation controller and drone yard. Hooter will alert the local workers of oil pipeline. Drones are responsible to monitor pipeline sections to recognize the pipeline damages by visuals

[0030] Referring to figure 1 shows the hybrid architecture of LoRa and

2.4GHz RF modem for pipeline parameters monitoring in Oil field. LoRa Gateway receives packets and forwards them to network server. End node receives packets via radio link. Gate ways of LoRa WAN is intermediate between network server and end nodes. The data packets which are received from gateways are transmitted to network server from end nodes and vice versa. Network server manages the entire network. While it receives packets and free packets from redundancy and security checking will be done. Then acknowledgement message will be send back through gateway. Both uplink and downlink communication can be used by network servers. Here uplink and downlink means communication from wireless sensors to application and vice versa. End devices send all data to application server which is end server. These servers have software that processes the data from network servers and shows them in web page or app as graph.

[0031] Referring to figure 2 shows the flowchart of the Monitoring

Section. Acoustic sensor interfaced with microcontroller is used to detect vibrations of pipeline. Pressure sensor is used to measure pressure levels of an oil pipeline and it is interfaced with microcontroller. Flow rate i.e. how many liters per specific time are transported to be monitored by flow rate sensor interfaced with microcontroller. Due to external heating of heavy oil transportation s needed so temperature of oil in pipeline should be monitored using thermometer Sensor. LoRa radio module is used for transmitting the data related to the pressure levels and any vibration observed to Servers via gateway. LCD is used to display the parameter values of a pipeline. RF module 2.4 Ghz is used to transmit abnormal signal to hooter driver.

[0032] Referring to figure 3 shows the flowchart of the detection sensor node. MQ2 flammable sensor is used to detect fire explosions by smoke detection along pipeline. Corrosion sensor is used to detection corrosion of pipeline. Location sensor is used to locate leakages of pipeline. LCD is used to display the parameter values of a pipeline. RF module 2.4Ghz is used to transmit abnormal signal to hooter driver

[0033] Referring to figure 4 shows the flowchart of the safety operation controller. Hooter driver is embedded with 2.4 Ghz RF module. When abnormal parameter values is noticed hooter is activated which is interfaced with hooter driver. [0034] Referring to figure 5 shows the flowchart of the LoRa Gateway.

LoRa module is interfaced with microcontroller which receives signals and display in LCD. ESP 8266 Wi-Fi modem are integrated with microcontroller to transfer data from LoRa gateway to application server.

[0035] Referring to figure 6 shows the flowchart of the drone yard. In case of any hazardous situation arising at pipeline monitoring, signals would be sent to drone yard via 2.4GHz module and drone is activated. Drone with camera is interfaced with microcontroller for pipeline inspection in hazardous situations. Drone captured images are sent to End user via LoRa gateway.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A system of monitoring the oil pipelines consisting of a) a programmed microcontroller unit connected with a LCD screen; b) a plurality of monitoring sensors and detection sensors; c) a LoRa module for transmitting the data related to the pressure levels and any vibration observed to Servers via LoRa gateway; d) a 2.4Ghz RF module for transmitting abnormal signal to a hooter driver; e) a ESP 8266 Wi-Fi modem for transferring data from LoRa gateway to a application server; f) a drone yard for activation of a drone with camera.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system consists of an acoustic sensor, a pressure sensor, a thermometer sensor and a flow rate sensor which are directly interfaced with the microcontroller for monitoring vibrations, pressure levels, temperature and flow rate in oil pipelines.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system consists of a corrosion sensor, a MQ2 flammable sensor, a location sensor which are directly interfaced with the microcontroller for detecting corrosion, fire explosions and leakage respectively in oil pipelines.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ESP 8266 Wi-Fi modem is used for transferring data from LoRa gateway to the application server is also integrated with microcontroller.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hooter is activated which is interfaced with hooter driver embedded in the 2.4 Ghz RF module.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signals would be sent to drone yard via 2.4GHz module and drone is activated in case of any hazardous situation arising at pipeline monitoring.