Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
PIPELINE INTERCHANGE FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
[0001]
[0002]
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to a pipeline interchange for petroleum
product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Pipelines transport different types of refined petroleum product in
the same pipeline.
To do so, a pipeline operator sends different products in "batches". For
example, an operator
might send gasoline for several hours, and then switch to jet fuels, before
switching to diesel
fuel. The process of tracking the customer's batch or product through the
pipeline is done
through analyzing the different products within a pipeline.
[0005] Throughout the process, the product is measured at the receipt point
in the pipeline
and again upon delivery to document the amount of product moved from point A
to point B.
Many pipeline systems require pipeline owners to meet defined common product
specifications
for each product shipped. This requires pipeline owners to regularly analyzing
many different
properties of refined products in a refinery or a terminal. In these
scenarios, a sample of refined
product is analyzed either before entering the pipeline or during to give an
analytical result.
Once the area in which the sample is taken from reaches a splitter, the
operation of the splitter is
adjusted based on the properties of the refined product.
[0006] Current analytical techniques, in a pipeline, require that the
sample of refined product
are taken with a hydrometer and adhere to ASTM guidelines such as ASTM 287. To
adhere to
these guideline pipeline operators must take the sample by either stopping the
flow of a pipeline
or taking a sample from a flowing pipeline. Stopping a pipeline is expensive
and not ideal.
Taking a sample from a flowing pipeline can mean large quantities of the
refined product can
flow through the pipeline prior to the analytical results are being generated.
=
[0007] A pipeline interchange is generally known in the industry as a
location where
products that flow through a pipeline are separated. In refined petroleum
industry, this pipeline
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interchange generally consists of substantially horizontal pipes that operate
within either a
= pipeline terminal, a refinery, a marine dock, or a rail terminal.
Typically, one pipeline will be
tasked with transporting various refined petroleum products and a method of
separating the
refined petroleum products within the pipeline to different pipelines or
storage compartments is
required.
100081 There exists a need for a configuration that would allow a pipeline
operator to obtain
near instantaneous analytical results from a sample of refined product and
relay that information
to a splitter.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
100091 The present embodiment describes a pipeline interchange, wherein the
pipeline
interchange has a refined petroleum product flowing through an upstream
pipeline. The pipeline
interchange can also have an automated slipstream analyzer connected to the
upstream pipeline
comprising an inlet, a return and an analyzer. In this embodiment, the
automated slipstream
analyzer is used to collect a sample, analyze the sample, generate data from
the sample and
return the sample of the refined petroleum product back to the pipeline. The
pipeline interchange
can also have an automatic splitter, downstream of the automated slipstream
analyzer, capable of
receiving and interpreting the data from the automated slipstream analyzer and
directing the
refined petroleum product into at least three different downstream pipelines,
wherein at least one
of the downstream pipelines is an intermix pipeline.
100101 In another embodiment, the pipeline interchange can also comprise a
refined
petroleum product flowing through an upstream pipeline. In this embodiment,
the refined
petroleum product comprises: gasoline, diesel and the intermix of gasoline and
diesel.
Connected to the upstream pipeline an automated slipstream analyzer is
operated simultaneously
comprising an inlet, a return and an analyzer. The automated slipstream
analyzer is used to
continuously collect samples, continuously analyze samples, continuously
generate data from the
samples and continuously return the samples of the refined petroleum product
flowing through
the
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upstream pipeline. In this embodiment, the automated slipstream analyzer can
be an infrared
analyzer or a near infrared analyzer. Downstream of the automated slipstream
analyzer an
automatic splitter capable of responding to the data from the automated
slipstream analyzer and
directing the refined petroleum product into a gasoline pipeline, a diesel or
other distillate
pipeline, and an intermix pipeline.
[0011] In yet another embodiment, a method is taught of flowing a refined
petroleum product
through an upstream pipeline. The method then continuously analyzes a sample
of the refined
petroleum product to generate data. With this data, the flow is adjusted of
the refined petroleum
product towards one of at least three different downstream pipelines depending
upon the data,
wherein at least one of the downstream pipelines is an intermix pipeline.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] A more complete understanding of the present invention and benefits
thereof may be
acquired by referring to the follow description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings in which:
[0013] Figure I depicts one embodiment of the pipeline interchange.
[0014] Figure 2 depicts one embodiment of the pipeline interchange.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Turning now to the detailed description of the preferred arrangement
or arrangements
of the present invention, it should be understood that the inventive features
and concepts may be
manifested in other arrangements and that the scope of the invention is not
limited to the
embodiments described or illustrated. The scope of the invention is intended
only to be limited
by the scope of the claims that follow.
[0016] The present embodiment describes a pipeline interchange, wherein the
pipeline
interchange has a refined petroleum product flowing through an upstream
pipeline. The pipeline
interchange can also have an automated slipstream analyzer connected to the
upstream pipeline
comprising an inlet, a return and an analyzer. In this embodiment, the
automated slipstream
analyzer is used to collect a sample, analyze the sample, generate data from
the sample and
return the sample of the refined petroleum product flowing through the
upstream pipeline. The
pipeline interchange can also have an automatic splitter, downstream of the
automated slipstream
analyzer, capable of receiving and interpreting the data from the automated
slipstream analyzer
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and directing of directing the refined petroleum product into at least three
different downstream
pipelines, wherein at least one of the downstream pipelines is an intermix
pipeline.
[0017] In this embodiment, an upstream pipeline is generally defined as the
pipeline
upstream of the pipeline interchange and a downstream pipeline is generally
defined as the
pipeline downstream of the pipeline interchange.
[0018] In one embodiment, the pipeline interchange is an integral part of a
pipeline terminal
or a refinery. A pipeline interchange is generally thought of as a place where
different pipelines
can either intersect or diverge. The size of the upstream pipeline and
downstream pipelines can
vary based upon the products they are transporting. In one embodiment, the
upstream pipeline
and the downstream pipeline can range from about 4 inches in diameter to about
48 inches in
diameter. These pipelines can either flow downstream of the pipeline
interchange into other
pipelines, into storage containers or storage tanks, into marine vessels, or
into rail cars. These
medians can also include an intermix. In one embodiment, at least three
different downstream
pipelines can be connected to pipeline storage tanks or intermix storage
tanks.
[0019] In other embodiments, there can be two different downstream
pipelines, three
different downstream pipelines, four different downstream pipelines, five
different downstream
pipelines, six different downstream pipelines or more. The number of different
downstream
pipelines will depend upon the different types of refined petroleum products
flowing through the
upstream pipeline. In other embodiments, the one of the downstream pipelines
can be dedicated
for contaminates. In yet another embodiment, the downstream pipelines can be
interchangeable
for their uses.
[0020] The refined product that flows through the pipelines can be any
liquid or gaseous
product that can be derived from crude oils through processes such as
catalytic cracking and
fractional distillation. These products can have physical and chemical
characteristics that differ
according to the type of crude oil and subsequent refining processes.
Different types of refined
petroleum products can include gasoline, diesel fuels, jet fuels, naphtha,
marine gas oils,
liquefied petroleum gasses, kerosene, lubricating oils and different types of
fuel oils such as No.
2, No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6.
[0021] It is envisioned, in one embodiment, that the flow of the refined
product would not be
decreased when flowing through the pipeline interchange.
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[0022] In one embodiment of the invention the analyzer is an optical
analyzer. Unlike
hydrometers that manually measure the density of the refined petroleum product
it is envisioned
that the pipeline interchange will utilize a continuous optical analyzer. In
one embodiment, the
pipeline interchange operates without a hydrometer. Types of optical analyzers
that can be used
include, infrared analyzers and near-infrared analyzers. The quantitative data
generated by these
analyzers can include data for premium gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel and
unleaded gasoline.
[0023] In one embodiment, the optical analyzers can be used to analyze
contaminants in the
refined product. These contaminants can be compounds such as: benzene,
toluene, ethylbenzene,
xylenes, methyl tertiary butyl ethers, sulfur, vanadium, iron, zinc, or even
lead scavengers. In
other embodiments, the optical analyzer can be used to analyze properties of
refined products
such as: octane numbers, research octane numbers, motor octane numbers,
antiknock index,
boiling point, density, viscosity, molecular type compositions, elemental
analysis, freezing point,
carbon residue, pour point, cloud point, vapor pressure, reid vapor pressure,
flammability range,
wax and asphaltene contents, cetane number, aniline point, and carbonto-
hydrogen ratios.
[0024] By utilizing optical analyzers, the automatic splitter will be able
to receive rapid and
reliable data regarding the composition of the refined petroleum product that
is flowing through
the pipeline. Additionally, the samples taken and returned to the pipeline by
the optical
analyzers allow the refined petroleum product to be reused instead of
conventional hand
measurement methods that can modify the refined petroleum product and
therefore make it
unsuitable of being returned to the pipeline or being used as a conventional
fuel.
[0025] It is theorized that by using a continuous optical analyzer that the
data generated can
be received and interpreted by the automatic splitter faster than conventional
methods. The
automatic splitter can then be able to determine the precise moment the
refined petroleum
product changes from one type of petroleum product to an intermix and from the
intermix to
another type of petroleum product. Intermix is defined as a random mixture of
on-specification
fuels that due to their mixing no longer meet a specific fuel specification,
such intermix fluids
can be directed to an intermix pipeline, which can be connected to an intermix
storage tank,
which will be redistributed back to a refinery to generate petroleum products
that meet product
specification requirements.
[0026] In other embodiments, it is envisioned that automatic splitter can
then be able to
determine the precise moment the refined petroleum product changes from one
type of petroleum
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product to one that contains contaminates. The automatic splitter then would
direct the
contaminated refined product to a pipeline that can be redistributed back to a
refinery instead of
to storage tanks for consumer use.
[0027] The automatic splitter can be from 1 meter to 500 meters downstream
of the
automated slipstream analyzer. In one embodiment, the automatic splitter can
be up to 1
kilometer, 2 kilometers or even 5 kilometers downstream of the automated
slipstream analyzer.
The automatic splitter can be any splitter capable of directing the flow of
the upstream pipeline
into the different downstream pipelines. This can consist of a valve on each
of the downstream
pipelines or a central splitter used to direct the flow of fluid into one or
more of the downstream
pipelines.
[0028] In one embodiment, the automated slipstream analyzer is located
inline of the
upstream pipeline. As shown in Figure 1, a side profile of an upstream
pipeline 2 is shown with
an automated slipstream analyzer 4 deposed within. The automated slipstream
analyzer has an
inlet 6 capable of collecting a sample and a return 8 capable of returning the
sample of refined
petroleum product flowing through the upstream pipeline. The automated
slipstream analyzer
can analyze the sample collected from the inlet and generate data from the
sample. The data
generated from the automated slipstream analyzer can be transferred wirelessly
10 or by a wired
connection 12 to an automatic splitter 14 located downstream of the automated
slipstream
analyzer. As depicted in this embodiment, automatic splitter comprises a valve
on each of the
downstream pipelines, in other embodiments this could be different. In one
embodiment as
shown in Figure 1, the automatic splitter is able to direct the refined
petroleum product into at
least three different downstream pipelines 16, 18 and 20.
[0029] As depicted in Figure 1, the automated slipstream analyzer is placed
in the center of
the upstream pipeline. It is understood that in different embodiments the
automated slipstream
analyzer can be placed anywhere within the upstream pipeline capable of
collecting a sample of
the refined petroleum product.
[0030] In another embodiment, the automated slipstream analyzer operates as
a sample loop
adjacent to the upstream pipeline. As shown in Figure 2, upstream pipeline 50
has an automated
slipstream analyzer 52 connected to the pipeline. The automated slipstream
analyzer has an inlet
54 capable of collecting a sample and a return 58 capable of returning the
sample of refined
petroleum product flowing through the upstream pipeline. The inlet can be
regulated to be a
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continuous flow or intermittent based on user needs. The automated slipstream
analyzer can
analyze the sample collected from the inlet and generate data from this
sample. The data
generated form the automated slipstream analyzer can be transferred wirelessly
60 or by a wired
connection 62 to an automatic splitter 64 located downstream of the automated
slipstream
analyzer. As depicted in this embodiment, automatic splitter comprises a valve
on each of the
downstream pipelines, in other embodiments this could be different. In one
embodiment as
shown in Figure 2, the automatic splitter is able to direct the refined
petroleum product into at
least three different downstream pipelines 66, 68 and 70.
[0031] In closing, it should be noted that the discussion of any reference
is not an admission
that it is prior art to the present invention, especially any reference that
may have a publication
date after the priority date of this application.
[0032] Although the systems and processes described herein have been
described in detail, it
should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can
be made without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein below. Those
skilled in the art may be
able to study the preferred embodiments and identify other ways to practice
the invention that are
not exactly as described herein. It is the intent of the inventors that
variations of the invention
are within the scope of the set out herein below while the description,
abstract and drawings are
not to be used to limit the scope of the invention. The invention is
specifically intended to be as
broad as described herein below.
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