Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/26—Oils; Viscous liquids; Paints; Inks
  • G01N33/28—Oils, i.e. hydrocarbon liquids
  • G01N33/2835—Specific substances contained in the oils or fuels
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
  • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
  • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
  • G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
  • G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
  • G01F23/292—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet

Definitions

• Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for mapping storage vessel contents. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for mapping storage vessel content through thermal evaluation. More specifically still, embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for mapping storage vessel content through thermal, density, and viscosity correlation.
• Storage vessels are used throughout the world in refineries, terminals, tank farms, and the like, for storing various hydrocarbons, such as oil.
• sludge accumulates over time due to the slow sedimentation of high gravity petroleum products.
• the vessels may be damaged.
• the storage vessels may experience accelerated corrosion that may ultimately result in failure of the vessels.
• the sludge and other hydrocarbon fluids may leak, potentially damaging the environment around the vessel.
• the accumulation of sludge may result in a loss of operational capacity. As sludge builds up over time, even as certain hydrocarbon fluids are removed from the storage vessel, the sludge may remain behind. As the volume of sludge relative to other fluids in the vessels increases, the vessels lose operational volume for storing useful fluids, thereby resulting in less efficient storage.
• the storage vessels are periodically cleaned.
• the vessels may be cleaned to prevent sludge accumulation, as well as to comply with inspection and maintenance protocols.
• cleaning and sludge removal it is beneficial to recover the largest percentage of hydrocarbons possible, while minimizing the volume of final waste that is sent for disposal.
• vessels Prior to performing a cleaning operation, vessels are traditionally mapped, so that the level of the sludge in the tank may be approximated.
• Sonar mapping is a distance measuring technology based on sound propagation speed through different media (i.e., gas, liquid and solid phases).
• the principle behind sonar is to measure the distance between a source and a reflector based on the echo return time.
• a sonar reading is taken from the top of a tank and allows for the detection of liquid and solid layers. While the detection of liquid and solids layers is useful, sludge is not homogeneous, as the sludge has different density values in a wide range (e.g., from 850 Kg/m 3 to greater than 1000 Kg/m 3 ). Because of the limitations associated with determining densities through the use of sonar, a true map of the vessel is not created. Rather, an approximation is generated, which results in inefficient cleaning and loss of valuable hydrocarbons.
• embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for mapping vessel contents.
• the method includes imaging thermal properties of the vessel and sampling contents of the vessel.
• the method further includes determining a density and viscosity of the contents of the vessel and correlating the density and viscosity of the contents of the vessel with the thermal properties of the vessel.
• the method includes generating a contents profile based on the correlation of the density, viscosity, and thermal properties.
• embodiments disclosed herein relate to a computer assisted method for mapping vessel contents.
• the method includes inputting thermal properties of a vessel, inputting density data of the contents of the vessel, and inputting viscosity data of the contents of the vessel.
• the method further includes correlating the thermal properties, the density data, and the viscosity data, generating a contents profile based on the correlating the thermal properties, the density data, and the viscosity data, and outputting the contents profile.
• embodiments disclosed herein relate to a computer readable medium. Instructions on the computer readable medium all the computer to correlate density and viscosity data of the contents of a vessel with thermal properties of the vessel, generate a contents profile of the correlated data, and output the contents profile as a graphical visualization.
• Figure 1 is a back view of an infrared camera according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 2 A is a side view of a storage vessel according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 2B is a side thermographic image of a storage vessel according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 2C is a composite of two thermographic images of a storage vessel according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 3 is a sampling device according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 4 A is a side thermographic image of a storage vessel according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 4B is a viscosity plot of contents of the storage vessel in Figure 4A.
• Figure 4C is a density plot of contents of the storage vessel in Figure 4A.
• Figure 5 A is a side thermographic image of a storage vessel according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 5B is a viscosity plot of contents of the storage vessel in Figure 5A.
• Figure 5C is a density plot of contents of the storage vessel in Figure 5A.
• Figures 6 A and 6B are graphical user interfaces according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 7 is a graphical user interface according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 8 is a graphical visualization according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 9 is a graphical visualization according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 10 is a graphical visualization according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 11 is a schematic representation of a computer system according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
• embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to systems and methods for mapping storage vessel contents. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for mapping storage vessel content through thermal evaluation. More specifically still, embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for mapping storage vessel content through thermal, density, and viscosity correlation.
• thermographic surveys In order to more effectively map storage vessels prior to cleaning, embodiments of the present disclosure perform thermographic surveys and obtain density and viscosity profiles. With the thermographic information, as well as density and viscosity samples, the thermal properties of the vessel may be correlated with the density and viscosity samples in order to generate a contents profile for the vessel. Based on the contents profile for the vessel, appropriate steps may be taken to clean the vessel, thereby allowing for efficient tank cleaning, as well as hydrocarbon recovery.
• thermo-cameras allow the thermal properties of a vessel to be determined.
• Infrared cameras 100 operate by measuring the thermal energy emitted from an object, and through use of a high sensibility tool, allows for the thermal properties of the object to be viewed without actual contact with the object. This is achieved because the infrared camera 100 measures the superficial temperature of the object by measuring infrared radiation emission from the object.
• the thermal properties may be displayed as color gradients, such that, for example, relatively cooler portions of the object may be displayed as black, shades of grey, or blue, while relatively hotter portions of the object may be displayed as white, shades of red, or yellow.
• relatively cooler portions of the object may be displayed as black, shades of grey, or blue
• relatively hotter portions of the object may be displayed as white, shades of red, or yellow.
• the specific color spectrums used may vary based on the application.
• the display may also include calculated values of the temperature at certain portions of the object being thermographed.
• FIG. 2A shows a side view of a storage vessel and a thermographic view of the storage vessel, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. More specifically, Figure 2A shows a side view of a storage vessel 200 that may be used to store hydrocarbons. Storage vessel 200 may be of varying size and geometry and may hold various volumes of fluid. Through use of an infrared camera, illustrated in Figure 2B, the thermal properties of storage vessel 200 may be obtained. In this embodiment, an infrared camera was used to take a thermographic image of storage vessel 200 from a side perspective. In order to more thoroughly obtain thermal properties of storage vessel 200, additional thermographic images may be taken around the periphery of storage vessel 200 and from above the storage vessel 200. Based on the size of the storage vessel 200, the number of thermographic images may vary; however, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that tens and even hundreds of images may be required to adequately obtain the required thermal properties of storage vessel 200.
• thermographic image taken from several meters will result in higher granularity.
• close perspective images may be useful in identifying thermal gradients of storage vessel 200, and thus, may be useful in determining a liquid/solid separation level.
• the relatively light portion 201 of the thermographic image is representative to a higher thermal signature, as opposed to the relatively darker portion 202, which is representative of a lower thermal signature.
• the mixed dark and light portion 203 may thus be indicative of a change in properties of the contents of storage vessel 200.
• mixed dark and light portion 203 may be a transition between a higher density fluid (dark portion 202) and a lower density fluid (light portion 201).
• thermographic images 300 and 301 are displayed, where each image 300 and 301 represent different sections of a storage vessel. Based on the color variation in the thermographic images 300 and 301, an oil portion 302 and a sludge portion 303 may be determined. The transition between oil portion 302 and sludge portion 303 is represented by transition line A. For perspective, the outlines of process engineers 304 are also displayed in the thermographic images 300 and 301.
• thermographic images 300 and 301 are taken spaced apart around the periphery of the storage vessel, it may be seen that the transition line A is not constant around the entire periphery of the vessel. Thus, the oil and sludge transition may be located at various storage vessel heights. As there is a section 305 of the storage vessel that has not been imaged, the transition line A may be extrapolated for the unimaged section 305, so that the transition between the oil and sludge portions 302 and 303 may be determined.
• thermographic image taken from the top of the storage vessel may also be taken. Such an image may be useful in determining temperature gradients across the vessel, thereby allowing an engineer to know if there are buildups of sludge that are not consistently dispersed.
• sampling device 400 may be used to collect information of the contents of a storage vessel.
• sampling device is a, which is capable of measuring density, viscosity, and temperature of liquid products within the storage vessel. The measurements may be determined at 30 meter depths within seconds, thereby allowing for relatively quick assessment of density, viscosity, and temperature. Prior to taking such measurement, sampling device 400 may require calibration, which may be established through use of distilled or reverse-osmosis water.
• the sampling device 400 is inserted into the vessel at various locations.
• the sampling device may be inserted into the vessel at a peripheral location through the side of the vessel, as well as through the roof of the vessel.
• Sampling may further include taking a plurality of samples at various depths within the vessel, so that the density and viscosity at various locations within the vessel is known.
• any number of samples may be taken depending on the size and geometry of the vessel.
• the proximity of the location of the samples may be varied in order to provide greater detail as to density and viscosity changes. For example, when a relatively low level of detail is required, samples may be taken tens of meters apart, whereas when a relatively high level of detail is required, or when a particular transition level is suspected, the samples may be taken much closer.
• the vessels are imaged to determine the thermal properties and the samples of the contents of the vessel are procured, the density and viscosity of the contents of the vessel are correlated to the thermal properties of the vessel. Based on this correlation, a contents profile may be generated.
• thermographic image 500 taken from a side periphery of a storage vessel.
• the color variation in thermographic image 500 is representative of changes in the contents within the storage vessel.
• thermographic image is compared with viscosity and density results, as correlated with samples taken from the storage vessel ( Figures 4B and 4C).
• viscosity and density of the contents of the vessel are relatively stable (i.e., the values of viscosity and density do not change with depth).
• both the viscosity and density substantially increase. This increase in viscosity and density is characteristic of a transition between oil (less viscous and dense) to sludge (more viscous and dense).
• the corresponding thermal properties, as illustrated in Figure 4A may be correlated, thereby allowing a transition location between an oil and sludge within the storage vessel to be determined.
• thermographic image 600 taken from a side periphery of a storage vessel.
• the color variation in thermographic image 600 is representative of changes in the contents within the storage vessel.
• the thermographic image is compared with viscosity and density results, as correlated with samples taken from the storage vessel ( Figures 5B and 5C).
• viscosity and density of the contents of the vessel are relatively stable (i.e.
• viscosity and density do not change with depth). Between 170cm and 140cm, viscosity increases, while between 170cm and 130cm the density increases. This change in viscosity and density may thus be representative of a transition in the contents. However, unlike the situation described above with respect to Figures 4A-C, in the present situation, both viscosity and density decrease at a height higher in the tank, before ultimately increasing (viscosity increases again between about 130cm to 115cm, while density increases again between about 115cm and 105cm). Such a change may be representative of multiple layers separating out in the storage vessel. With the viscosity and density of the contents known, the viscosity and density may be correlated with the thermographic image 600, thereby allowing an engineer to know the multiple transition heights of contents within the vessel.
• the data for specific locations within the storage vessel may be used to map the contents of the vessel.
• the resultant contents profile may then be used in defining appropriate treatments to be performed in order to recover hydrocarbons and dispose of waste products.
• the density, viscosity, and thermal properties for selected locations are entered into a computer system.
• FIG. 6A illustrates a storage vessel data input screen "Tank Data" 700, whereby a user may enter a Client ID 701, a Tank Number 702, a Diameter 703 of the tank, a type of tank 704 description, a product of the tank 705, and a survey date 706.
• the user may define a roof ladder direction point 707, including x, y, and/or z coordinates, so that the location of sampled data may accurately be inputted into the computer system.
• a contents profile may be generated by inputting data representative of particular locations that were sampled within the vessel.
• a content profile input screen according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown alongside a generated graphical visualization of the contents of the tank.
• the storage vessel is mapped in three-dimensions.
• the density, viscosity, and thermal properties are inputted (represented at column 1 : 1 as location points R-l, R- 2,).
• a three-dimensional map of, in this example the sludge in the vessel is generated.
• the visualization includes a graphical depiction 900 of the sludge in the vessel, as well as a key 901, and a color code 902.
• the visualization includes a graphical depiction 1000 of the sludge in the vessel, as well as a key 1001, and a color code 1002.
• the graphical visualization also provides data regarding measurements taken at various locations (represented by PI, P2, P3., P).
• the visualization includes a graphical depiction 1100 of the sludge in the vessel, as well as a key 1101, and a color code 1102.
• the graphical visualization in this embodiment, provides a top view of the contents of the storage vessel.
• Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented on virtually any type of computer regardless of the platform being used.
• a computer system 1200 includes one or more processor(s) 1202, associated memory 1204 (e.g., random access memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory, etc.), a storage device 1206 (e.g., a hard disk, an optical drive such as a compact disk drive or digital video disk (DVD) drive, a flash memory stick, etc.), and numerous other elements and functionalities typical of today's computers (not shown).
• the computer 1200 may also include input means, such as a keyboard 1208, a mouse 1210, or a microphone (not shown).
• the computer 1200 may include output means, such as a monitor 1212
• the computer system 1200 may be connected to a network 1214 (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or any other similar type of network) via a network interface connection (not shown).
• a network 1214 e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or any other similar type of network
• LAN local area network
• WAN wide area network
• the Internet or any other similar type of network
• a network interface connection not shown.
• the computer system 1200 includes at least the minimal processing, input, and/or output means necessary to practice embodiments of the invention.
• one or more elements of the aforementioned computer system 1200 may be located at a remote location and connected to the other elements over a network.
• embodiments of the invention may be implemented on a distributed system having a plurality of nodes, where each portion of the invention (e.g., data repository, signature generator, signature analyzer, etc.) may be located on a different node within the distributed system.
• the node corresponds to a computer system.
• the node may correspond to a processor with associated physical memory.
• the node may alternatively correspond to a processor with shared memory and/or resources.
• software instructions to perform embodiments of the invention may be stored on a computer readable medium such as a compact disc (CD), a diskette, a tape, a file, or any other computer readable storage device.
• embodiments of the present disclosure may provide systems and methods that allow for the mapping of vessels so that a cleaning operation may be more efficient. Because the contents of a vessel may be determined prior to cleaning, chemical additives may be introduced to the vessel so that cleaning operations may be more effective in removing sludge from the vessel.
• embodiments of the present disclosure may provide systems and methods that allow for the three-dimensional mapping of storage vessels.
• Three-dimensional mapping may allow for the contents of the vessel at varying depths to be determined prior to cleaning operations. Because the properties of contents in the vessel may be known prior to cleaning, the cleaning operation may be more effective at removing sludge from the vessel.
• Systems and methods of the present disclosure may further allow for the recovery of greater volumes of hydrocarbons from vessels. Because the properties of the vessels may be determined, additional hydrocarbons may be recovered, resulting in cost savings.
• embodiments of the present disclosure may allow for the contents of a vessel to be determined using thermographic imaging. Because the density and viscosity of the contents of the vessels may be determined using thermographic imaging, the map of the sludge in the vessel may be more easily updated as the properties of the contents of the vessel change over time. Accordingly, the cleaning plan may be modified, thereby allowing for a more efficient cleaning operation capable of recovering greater volumes of hydrocarbons.

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Citations (5)

• 2011
  • 2011-10-13 IT IT001865A patent/ITMI20111865A1/it unknown
• 2012
  • 2012-10-12 WO PCT/EP2012/070335 patent/WO2013053921A1/en active Application Filing

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