Automated flare control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024288162-A1
Application number	US-202318115541-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 28, 2023
Priority date	Feb 28, 2023
Publication date	Aug 29, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automated method for controlling flare of a gas oil separation system includes determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare; activating an automated detection and minimization of flare (ADMF) process executed by ADMF logic; determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable value for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeds a corresponding setpoint value for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value: identifying a tag number for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and causing a notification to be sent to an operator to inspect the pressure indicator controllers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for controlling flare of a gas oil separation system, the method comprising:
determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare; activating an automated detection and minimization of flare (ADMF) process executed by ADMF logic; determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable value for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeds a corresponding setpoint value for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
identifying a tag number for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and
causing a notification to be sent to an operator to inspect the pressure indicator controllers.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare comprises comparing a process variable for gas flare against a target setpoint for the gas flare.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers not exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value: determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controller manipulation indicator value is equal to zero; applying a tight shutoff to each pressure control valve for a predetermined period of time.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined period of time comprises five minutes.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a setpoint value for gas flare; and determining a new target setpoint for the gas flare.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
comparing plant flare source temperature against gas flare temperature; and identifying a source of the gas flare based on the comparison of the plant flare source temperature against the gas flare temperature.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the ADMF process comprises:
determining that an equipment shutdown status indicates that equipment has not been shutdown within a predetermined amount of time prior to the non-routine gas flare; determining that a gas flare alarm is active; and determining that an investigation command has been activated.

8 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to perform operations comprising:
determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare; activating an automated detection and minimization of flare (ADMF) process executed by ADMF logic; determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable value for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeds a corresponding setpoint value for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
identifying a tag number for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and
causing a notification to be sent to an operator to inspect the pressure indicator controllers.

9 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 8 , wherein determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare comprises comparing a process variable for gas flare against a target setpoint for the gas flare.

10 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers not exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controller manipulation indicator value is equal to zero;
applying a tight shutoff to each pressure control valve for a predetermined period of time.

11 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined period of time comprises five minutes.

12 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a setpoint value for gas flare; and determining a new target setpoint for the gas flare.

13 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
comparing plant flare source temperature against gas flare temperature; and identifying a source of the gas flare based on the comparison of the plant flare source temperature against the gas flare temperature.

14 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 8 , wherein activating the ADMF process comprises:
determining that an equipment shutdown status indicates that equipment has not been shutdown within a predetermined amount of time prior to the non-routine gas flare; determining that a gas flare alarm is active; and determining that an investigation command has been activated.

15 . A system comprising:
a gas flare stack; a gas flare flow meter; a plurality of pressure control valves; and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to perform operations comprising:
determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare;
activating an automated detection and minimization of flare (ADMF) process executed by ADMF logic;
determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable value for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeds a corresponding setpoint value for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and
based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
identifying a tag number for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and
causing a notification to be sent to an operator to inspect the pressure indicator controllers.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare comprises comparing a process variable for gas flare against a target setpoint for the gas flare.

17 . The system of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:
based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers not exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controller manipulation indicator value is equal to zero;
applying a tight shutoff to each pressure control valve for a predetermined period of tim

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Aldossary Faleh M
• Bukhari Dawood O
• Alfarhan Fahad A

Classifications

• F23G7/08 Primary

  using flares, e.g. in stacks · CPC title

• F23G2208/10

  Preventing or abating fire or explosion, e.g. by purging · CPC title

• F23G2207/102

  for pressure · CPC title