Method and system for monitoring and preventing hydrate formations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11448060-B2
Application number	US-202016833429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2020
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A method for monitoring hydrate formation in an interior of a tube may include deploying a first hydrate controller device at a first location on an exterior surface of the tube. The method may include deploying a second hydrate controller device at a second location on the exterior surface of the tube. The method may include transmitting, by the first hydrate controller device, first acoustic signals towards the interior of the tube. The first acoustic signals may include a first frequency value and a first amplitude value associated to a transmission power level. The method may include receiving, by the second hydrate controller device, the first acoustic signals. The method may include measuring, by the second hydrate controller device, a reception power level of the first acoustic signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring hydrate formation in an interior of a tube, the method comprising:
deploying a first hydrate controller device at a first location on an exterior surface of the tube;
deploying a second hydrate controller device at a second location on the exterior surface of the tube;
transmitting, by the first hydrate controller device, first acoustic signals towards the interior of the tube, the first acoustic signals comprising a first frequency value and a first amplitude value associated to a transmission power level;
receiving, by the second hydrate controller device, the first acoustic signals;
measuring, by the second hydrate controller device, a reception power level of the first acoustic signals;
obtaining, by the second hydrate controller device, a power level difference from comparing the transmission power level to the reception power level; and
determining, by the second hydrate controller device, a hydrate formation probability in the interior of the tube based on the power level difference.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying, by the second hydrate controller device, whether the hydrate formation probability is above a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, by the first hydrate controller device, second acoustic signals towards the interior of the tube, the second acoustic signals comprising a second frequency value and a second amplitude value; and
resonating the interior of the tube using the second acoustic signals.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the second hydrate controller device, a distance between the first hydrate controller device and the second hydrate controller device based on the reception power level measured;
obtaining, by the second hydrate controller device, a distance difference from comparing the distance to a predetermined diameter of the tube; and
determining, by the second hydrate controller device, the hydrate formation probability in the interior of the tube based on the power level difference and the distance difference.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the second hydrate controller device, imaging information to the first hydrate controller device, the imaging information comprising the power level difference, the hydrate formation probability, and the distance.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
starting, by the first hydrate controller device and the second hydrate controller device, a traversal path moving forward and towards a side while maintaining a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance being equal to the predetermined diameter of the tube.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining, by the second hydrate controller device, whether the distance is equal to the predetermined distance; and
stopping, by the first hydrate controller device and the second hydrate controller device, the traversal path when the distance is not equal to the predetermined distance.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining, by the second hydrate controller device, whether the distance is equal to the predetermined distance; and
continuing, by the first hydrate controller device and the second hydrate controller device, the traversal path when the distance is equal to the predetermined distance.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the first hydrate controller device or by the second hydrate controller device, geospatial information and the imaging information to control systems located in a remote location.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
generating, by the first hydrate controller device or by the second hydrate controller device or by the control systems, a mapping of the interior of the tube at a point in time based on the imaging information received.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tube is a section of a pipeline or a section of a wellbore tubular.

12. A system for monitoring hydrate formation in an interior of a tube, comprising:
a first hydrate controller device deployed at a first location on an exterior surface of the tube; and
a second hydrate controller device deployed at a second location on the exterior surface of the tube;
wherein the first hydrate controller device:
transmits first acoustic signals towards the interior of the tube, the first acoustic signals comprising a first frequency value and a first amplitude value associated to a transmission power level,

wherein the second hydrate controller device:
receives the first acoustic signals,
measures a reception power level of the first acoustic signals,
obtains a power level difference from comparing the transmission power level to the reception power level, and
determines a hydrate formation probability in the interior of the tube based on the power level difference.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second hydrate controller device further identifies whether the hydrate formation probability is above a predetermined threshold.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first hydrate controller device further generates second acoustic signals towards the interior of the tube, the second acoustic signals comprising a second frequency value and a second amplitude value; and
the second acoustic signals resonate the interior of the tube.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second hydrate controller device further:
determines a distance between the first hydrate controller device and the second hydrate controller device based on the power level difference;
obtains a distance difference from comparing the distance to a predetermined diameter of the tube; and
determines the hydrate formation probability inside of the tube based on the power level difference and a result of the distance difference.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first hydrate controller device and the second hydrate controller device further:
start a traversal path moving forward and towards a side while maintaining a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance being equal to the predetermined diameter of the tube.

17. The system of claim 16 ,
wherein the second hydrate controller device further determines whether the distance is equal to the predetermined distance;
wherein the first hydrate controller device and the second hydrate controller device further:
stop the traversal path when the distance is not equal to the predetermined distance; and
continue the traversal path when the distance is equal to the predetermined distance.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the tube is a section of a pipeline or a section of a wellbore tubular.

19. A hydrate controller device deployed at a first location on an exterior surface of a tube for monitoring hydrate formation in an interior of the tube, the hydrate controller device comprising:
sensing systems that receive acoustic signals from a second hydrate controller device deployed at a second location on the exterior surface of the tube;
wherein the second hydrate controller device transmits the acoustic signals towards the interior of the tube, and
wherein the acoustic signals comprise a first frequency value and a first amplitude value associated to a transmission power level;

processing systems that measure a reception power level of the acoustic signals, obtain a power level difference from comparing the transmission power level to the reception power level, and determine

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Batarseh Sameeh Issa

Classifications

• G01N29/11

  by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves · CPC title

• E21B47/006

  Detection of corrosion or deposition of substances · CPC title

• E21B41/0099

  specially adapted for drilling for or production of natural hydrate or clathrate gas reservoirs; Drilling through or monitoring of formations containing gas hydrates or clathrates · CPC title

• G01N29/265

  by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material · CPC title

• B08B9/027

  Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages · CPC title