Systems and methods to obtain diagnostic information related to a bi-directional prover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10240967-B2
Application number	US-201615176407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 8, 2016
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

The invention provides generally methods and systems in a bi-directional sphere prover for generating diagnostic information by calculating and using multiple meter factors (MF) from four detector switches. A Data Acquisition and Monitoring System gathers the signals of the four detector switches and calculates the base prover volume (BPV) for each section of the prover based on these readings. Then, the different base prover volumes are used to create multiple meter factors for each section of the prover to derive the diagnostic information. The Data Acquisition and Monitoring System displays, archives, and trends the meter factors. Depending upon what particular meter factor ratios are within the acceptable limit, the correct detector switch can be diagnosed and fixed without a substantial amount of down time for the prover. Trend lines for meter factors can also be analyzed for different process fluids that are sent through the prover.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bi-directional prover system that generates diagnostic information relating to detector sensor health, the system comprising:
a bi-directional prover capable of proving in both the forward and reverse directions connected to a hydrocarbon pipeline with a segmented pipeline section in a rounded U-shape that contains a displacer that is pushed through the pipeline section by fluid let into the pipeline;
a data acquisition and monitoring computer system;
a flowmeter that tracks the amount of liquid and its velocity sent through the bi-directional prover and sends pulses to the data acquisition and monitoring computer system;
a first plurality of detector switches set on a first side of the bi-directional prover configured to trigger a first counter and a second counter in the data acquisition and monitoring computer system when a displacer triggers the first plurality of detector switches;
a second plurality of detector switches set on a second side of the bi-directional prover configured to trigger a third counter and a fourth counter in the data acquisition and monitoring computer system when a displacer triggers the second plurality of detector switches;
the data acquisition and monitoring computer system configured with one or more processors and associated non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium and being operable by the one or more processors to execute a set of instructions comprising:
starting the first counter and the second counter as the displacer in the prover pipe passes the first detector switch of the first plurality of detector switches;
starting the third counter and the fourth counter as the displacer in the prover pipe passes the second detector switch of the first plurality of detector switches;
stopping the first counter and the third counter as the displacer in the prover pipe passes the first detector switch of the second plurality of detector switches;
stopping the second counter and the fourth counter as the displacer in the prover pipe passes the second detector switch of the second plurality of detector switches;
calculating a base prover volume for each section of the prover based on the pulse count readings from the first, second, third, and fourth counters;
creating meter factors for each section of the prover, the meter factors including at least a first meter factor, a second meter factor, a third meter factor, and a fourth meter factor, by taking the pulse count readings for each section of the prover and subtracting them based on the location of the detector switches in the pipe section and the base prover volume;
comparing meter factors with a meter factor history to determine if there has been a change in base prover volume before and after a detector switch is changed from each section of the pipe to create a meter factor ratio for each section of the pipe;
deriving and displaying diagnostic information related to the history, health, trends and archives of the meter factor and the meter factor ratio to determine if the base prover volume has changed over time and if the detector switch needs to be changed based on whether the meter factor ratios for each section of the pipe are within a certain threshold based on the meter factor ratio;
adjusting the base prover volume based on the compared meter factor ratios if the base prover volume has changed after the comparison of the newly calculated meter factors and meter factor ratios with the historical data of the prover; and
repeating the process of deriving meter factor ratios in the pipe section;
a four-way valve controlled by the data acquisition and monitoring computer system; and
one or more displays configured in conjunction with the data acquisition and monitoring computer system to display diagnostic information related to the health of the detector switches in oil-related operations within the pipe.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more displays display information related to the health of the first plurality of detector switches and the second plurality of detector switches and the information includes meter factor trends, archives, and a comparison of current and historical meter factors.

3. The system of claim 1 , comprising two detector switches making up the first plurality of detector switches set on a first side of the bi-directional prover, the first and second switches, and two detector switches making up the second plurality of detector switches set on a second opposite side of the bi-directional prover, the third and fourth switches , wherein the first meter factor is derived using the signals detected from the first and third switches, the second meter factor is derived using the signals detected from the first and fourth switches, the third meter factor is derived using the signals detected from the second and third switches, and the fourth meter factor is derived using the signals detected from the second and fourth switches.

4. The system of claim 1 , further including that the displacer is a sphere.

5. A method for generating diagnostic information in a meter proving system, the method comprising the steps of:
moving a displacer through a prover pipe in the forward and reverse directions;
starting a first counter tied to a first set of detector switches, when the displacer in the bi-directional prover passes each detector switch and fluid is sent through the prover moving the displacer and sending the signals from the detector switches to a data acquisition and monitoring system;
starting a second counter tied to a second set of detector switches, when the displacer in the bi-directional prover passes each detector switch and fluid is sent through the prover moving the displacer and sending the signals from the detector switches to a data acquisition and monitoring system;
determining base prover volume for each section of the prover pipe based upon the count values stored from the first and second counters to a data acquisition and monitoring system;
recording a number of flowmeter pulses and sending it to the data acquisition and monitoring system for the amount of fluid that has passed through prover;
calculating meter factors for each section of the prover and comparing a meter factor before the switch is replaced with one after the switch is replaced to create a meter factor ratio;
generating a meter correction factor based upon the discrepancy between the base prover volume and a recorded volume indicated by the recorded number of flowmeter pulses;
determining whether the meter correction factor is within a certain threshold and if it is found within the threshold then designating the switches as heathy; and
displaying the meter factor ratios, the meter factors, the status of each switch on a display that is connected to a data acquisition and monitoring system, and indicating which of the detector switches is in need of repair and which of the detector switches is healthy based upon whether the calculated meter factors and meter factor ratios show a discrepancy when compared with the historical meter factors and meter factor ratios by being outside of the certain threshold.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the one or more displays display information related to the health of the detectors and the information includes meter factor trends, archives, and a comparison of current and historical meter factors.

7. The method of claim 5 , further including the step of deriving the first meter factor using the signals detected from the first and third switches, the second meter factor is derived using first and fourth switches, the third meter factor is derived using the second and third switches, and the fourth meter factor is derived using the second and fourth switches.

8. The

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Bhatasana Chandulal N

Classifications

• G01F25/0007 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01F25/003

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01F25/0015

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01F25/11 Primary

  using a seal ball or piston in a test loop · CPC title

• G01F25/13

  using a reference counter · CPC title