| Abstract Title: | Do you really know what’s in your natural gas pipeline? |
| Abstract Type: | Poster |
| Session Choice: | Emerging technologies |
| Presenter Name: | Mr Paul Stockwell |
| Company/Organisation: | Process Vision Ltd |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
Abstract Information :
Before natural gas is suitable for sale and distribution in a gas network, acid gases (CO2 and H2S), water and water vapour must be removed, as well the anti-corrosion, methanol, amine (used in de-sulpherisation) and glycol (used in de-humidification) process. While gas/liquid separation has improved, they are not 100% efficient, 100% of the time, in fact, their performance is one of the most common causes of problems and capacity constraints. If liquids are allowed to enter a gas network they collect at low points where they cause corrosion, or are swept out as a slug of liquid that can damage sensitive equipment downstream. As gas analysis systems are unsuitable to detect process liquid carry-over, a method of safely and easily detecting contamination in gas pipelines has not been available despite undetected liquids costing the industry €millions every year in damage, lost revenue and labour costs.
This paper illustrates how a new, permanently installed, pipeline monitoring system can improve asset, process and flow assurance by providing a live video stream from inside a pipeline. Image processing is used to activate an alarm when liquids, hydrates or foam are detected.
Enabling network operators and process engineers to see a live video stream enables better accountability and allows them to make quick and correct decisions to reduce the impact of a process failure resulting in lower downtime and emissions. With the knowledge that the gas is wet, corrections can be made to flow computers to reflect the change and improve accuracy of the reported flow for fiscal measurements.
Field tests can be made to de-bottleneck and find and improve the real process flow limits with the possibility of increasing production from existing assets while guarding against liquid damage to absorption beds, compressors and catalysts.
The paper explains how the optical system avoids contamination and uses a patent pending system to ensure safe retro fitting on standard tapping points in upstream, midstream and downstream applications.
