# US 10,865,946 B2 · Method for preventing spills resulting from pipeline failures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,946 B2 - Document ID: US10865946B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/293,448 - Filed: 2019-03-05 - Published: 2019-06-27 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-19 - Assignees: R. Dale Moretz - Applicants: R. Dale Moretz - Inventors: R. Dale Moretz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865946B2 ## CPC - F17D 5/02: Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss - B67D 7/3209: {relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection (leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892)} - B67D 7/3218: {relating to emergency shut-off means} - E21B 43/0122: {Collecting oil or the like from a submerged leakage (cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or the like E02B15/04)} - F15B 20/005: {Leakage; Spillage; Hose burst} - F16K 17/02: opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side (check valves F16K15/00) - F16K 17/34: in which the flow-energy of the flowing medium actuates the closing mechanism - F16K 31/12: actuated by fluid ({fluid-actuated lift valves F16K1/126} ; fluid-actuated check valves F16K15/00; fluid-actuated safety valves F16K17/00) - F16L 55/1022: {Fluid cut-off devices automatically actuated} - F16L 58/1009: {the coating being placed inside the pipe} - F17D 1/14: Conveying liquids or viscous products by pumping - F17D 5/00: Protection or supervision of installations (arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00) - F17D 5/005: {of gas pipelines, e.g. alarm} - G01M 3/2815: {using pressure measurements} - G05D 16/16: derived from the controlled fluid - F16L 2201/30: Detecting leaks - G05B 2219/31356: Automatic fault detection and isolation - Y10T 137/0452: Detecting or repairing leak - Y10T 137/7727: Excessive flow cut-off - Y10T 137/7762: Fluid pressure type - F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06) - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline includes an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material, a crossing portion of the pipeline receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline, the downstream portion, a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion, and a fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the valve blocking the flow of fluid material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline, the system comprising: a first portion of the pipeline comprising an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material; a second portion of the pipeline comprising a crossing portion of the pipeline, receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline; a third portion of the pipeline comprising the downstream portion of the pipeline; a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion; a flow restrictor downstream of the pipeline pressure activated valve and upstream of the crossing portion of the pipeline, wherein the flow restrictor is configured to create a lower pipeline internal pressure within the crossing portion as compared to a pipeline internal pressure within the upstream portion; a pump downstream of the crossing portion of the pipeline; a contaminated material tank configured to receive a flow of contaminated material when the pipeline pressure activated valve blocks the flow of fluid material; and a fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the pipeline pressure activated valve blocking the flow of fluid material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the fluid capacitor is configured to stabilize the pressure within the pipeline to stabilize operation of the pipeline pressure activated valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the pipeline pressure activated valve comprises a differential pressure actuated valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the pipeline pressure activated valve comprises an electrically actuated valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the pipeline pressure activated valve comprises a hydraulically actuated valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the pipeline pressure activated valve comprises a pneumatically actuated valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor is further configured to create the lower pipeline internal pressure within the crossing portion at a pressure lower than ambient atmosphere. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, further comprising a purging solution tank configured to release a purging solution into the crossing portion when the pipeline pressure activated valve blocks the flow of fluid material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, further comprising a redundant pumping station configured to pump stationary fluid material from the crossing portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 9, further comprising an electrical power generator attached to the redundant pumping station. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the fluid capacitor comprises a closed top and an air portion trapped within the fluid capacitor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the fluid capacitor comprises an open top and an air portion that can flow in and out of the fluid capacitor through the open top. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 12, wherein the fluid capacitor further comprises a floating ball check valve to prevent the flow of fluid material from flowing out of the open top. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, wherein the fluid capacitor is connected in-line with the pipeline. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 1, further comprising: a purging solution tank; and a differential pressure actuated valve configured to release a purging solution from the purging solution tank into the crossing portion when the pipeline pressure activated valve blocks the flow of fluid material. ### Claim 16 A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline, the system comprising: a first portion of the pipeline comprising an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material; a second portion of the pipeline comprising a crossing portion of the pipeline, receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline; a third portion of the pipeline comprising the downstream portion of the pipeline; a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion; a fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the pipeline pressure activated valve blocking the flow of fluid material, wherein the fluid capacitor is connected in-line with the pipeline; a flow restrictor downstream of the pipeline pressure activated valve and upstream of the crossing portion of the pipeline, wherein the flow restrictor is configured to create a lower pipeline internal pressure within the crossing portion as compared to a pipeline internal pressure within the upstream portion and at a pressure lower than ambient atmosphere; a pump downstream of the crossing portion of the pipeline; and a contaminated material tank configured to receive a flow of contaminated material when the pipeline pressure activated valve blocks the flow of fluid material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The petroleum pipeline safety system of claim 16, further comprising: a purging solution tank configured to release a purging solution into the crossing portion when the pipeline pressure activated valve blocks the flow of fluid material.