Shell Oil Comapny

Thomas L Stewart

Florian C Demny

Edward R Cadena, Jr

Vitold R Kruka

Joe O Esparza

Dean P Hemphill

Robert W Patterson

Robert Wing-Yu Chin

Walter C Nanny

Geophones are placed around pipelines to detect third parties, e.g., heavy construction vehicles. Associated computer equipment acquires data from the geophones and discriminates for the frequencies associated with heavy construction vehicles.

Third-party detection around pipelines

A centrifugal filter element is inserted into a pipeline to provide a dry oil stream for analysis. A moisture sensing probe is inserted along the central axis of the centrifugal filter to sense the properties of the dry oil stream therein. A second probe is inserted into the pipeline to sense the properties of the undried oil. Comparison of the output of the two probes reveals the water content of the oil in the pipeline.

In situ BS&W measurement

The basic water and sediment (BS&W) system compares a wet stream to a dry stream of the same oil in two electrical capacitance cells. A numerical zero offset is employed in the comparison to compensate for voltage output differences between the cells. The dry cell builds a small increase in its inherent offset from the wet cell because of its lower flow rate, which buildup is swept away when the wet fluid is run through both cells at a higher flow rate to determine the zero offset. To cancel the zero offset, the present invention alternates the flow to the two cells so that each cell experiences the same sequence of events alternately.

BS and W measurement system

Capacitance cells comprising concentric tubes are maintained clean of sediment in the space between the inner and outer tubes where capacitance is measured by (1) suspending fibrous strands in the fluid flow outside the inner tube and/or (2) partially plugging the inner tube to increase flow outside the inner tube.

BS&W in crude oil streams

Temperature variations of fluid streams within a BS&W recorder system are controlled by heat exchange and recycling through the pump to reduce waxing and capacitance measurement errors.

Measurement of bs&w in crude oil streams

A process is provided for measuring the water and sediment content of a wet stream which is predominantly non-aqueous. The process requires removing a sample of the wet stream, extracting a dry stream sample from the wet stream sample, and comparing the dielectric constants of the wet and dry streams. Leakage of any of the wet stream sample into the dry stream sample will adversely affect the comparison of dielectric constants. Accordingly, periodically the apparatus used for the process is checked for leakage by blocking conduits carrying the dry stream sample to a holding chamber.

Leak detection

An electromagnetic system is provided for accurately sensing and remotely controlling a tool-to-workpiece spatial relationship. A typical application of the system may include a saw being sensor controlled through the process of removing a reinforced concrete covering from and about an underwater pipe or other metallic object that must be protected.

Method for sensing and remotely controlling a tool to workpiece spatial

An improvement is provided in a process for measuring BS&W in crude oil by centrifugal separation of dry oil from wet oil and comparison of the dielectric constants of the two, the improvement being the use of at least two seals separating a dry oil chamber from a wet oil chamber and means for flushing the space between the seals with dry oil.

BS And W in crude oil streams

The present invention pertains to a process for detecting leaks in a pipeline when the flow is in a transient or steady condition. A mathematical model of the pipeline is constructed and real pressures and real flows are compared at various locations in the pipeline with predicted pressures and flows of the model at such locations. Leaks in the pipeline are indicated when upstream of the leak real pressure decreases and real flow increases with respect to the model and downstream of the leak real pressure decreases and real flow decreases with respect to the model.

Pipeline leak detection

Interfaces are detected in pipeline batching by means of a capacitance cell for determining dielectric constants. The batch fluid may be purified by a centrifugal filter to allow identification of the batch fluid by dielectric constant.

Detection of batch interfaces in pipelines

To improve both the accuracy and reliability of capacitance-type basic sediment and water (BS&W) recorders, it is desirable to provide a clean, dry reference stream whose dielectric constant can be compared to that of a wet stream. This compensates for any variation in the physical composition of the fluid (e.g., pipeline crude oil) which might otherwise yield a false value for the BS&W content. In accordance with the present invention, the dry reference stream is provided by filtration and reverse centrifugation of part of the wet stream.

Measurement of BSW in crude oil streams

Basic sediment and water content of crude oil flowing through a pipeline is measured by removing a representative sample of the crude oil, heating the sample, and centrifuging the sample to separate the water from the oil. The vapor pressure in the centrifuge is controlled to prevent the escape of any water which has been vaporized by the heating step. The water fraction is passed to a condenser to condense whatever water was vaporized during the heating. Following the condensing step, the water flows into a measuring vessel and is measured.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Thomas L Stewart