Methods and systems for automated pipeline testing
AssigneeNTG, Inc.
InventorsThomas N. Hilleary, Perry B. Peden, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for testing a cathodic protection system is disclosed where the system includes a cathodic protection rectifier configured to apply a voltage across a pipeline and a reference point. The method includes measuring a magnitude of an output voltage of the cathodic protection rectifier, transmitting to a site remote from the rectifier, the measured output voltage magnitude using a cellular control channel, receiving the transmitted measurement at the remote site, and using the transmitted measurement to determine whether the cathodic protection system is operational.
Claims23
A method for testing operation of a cathodic protection rectifier (CPR) electrically coupled to a pipeline and a reference point, the CPR configured to apply a voltage to the pipeline, a cathodic system monitor which includes a cellular modem and is configured to communicate with an external system and further configured to control and verify application of the voltage to the pipeline, said method comprising:
- applying the CPR voltage to the pipeline through a shunt resistor;
- periodically cycling the applied voltage;
- measuring the voltage across the shunt resistor with the cathodic system monitor;
- operating the cathodic system monitor to calculate a current applied to the pipeline by the CPR;
- transmitting the current calculations to the external system;
- and
- analyzing the current calculations utilizing the external system.
A system for monitoring a critical bond electrically connecting separate underground structures, the underground structures each including corrosion mitigation equipment applying a voltage to the respective structure, said system comprising:
- a shunt resistor electrically connected between the separate structures;
- and
- a monitor configured to periodically measure the voltage across the shunt resistor, said monitor comprising a processor and a cellular modem interfaced to said processor, said monitor further configured to transmit the measured voltages over at least one of a cellular control channel, a short messaging service cellular channel, and a general packet radio service.
A method for monitoring a critical bond between separate underground structures, the underground structures each including corrosion mitigation equipment applying a voltage to the respective structure, said method comprising:
- electrically connecting a shunt resistor between the separate structures;
- periodically measuring the voltage across the shunt resistor utilizing a monitor, the monitor configured to transmit the measured voltages over at least one of a cellular control channel, a short messaging service cellular channel, and a general packet radio service.
A method for monitoring operation of corrosion mitigation equipment applying an electrical voltage to a well casing, said method comprising:
- periodically measuring the voltage applied to the well casing with a monitor;
- transmitting, to a site remote from the monitor, the measured voltage utilizing at least one of a cellular control channel, a short messaging service cellular channel, and a general packet radio service;
- receiving, at the remote site, the transmitted voltage measurement;
- and
- determining, using the transmitted voltage measurement, whether the corrosion mitigation equipment is operational.
A test point monitor configured to monitor operation of corrosion mitigation devices for underground structures and structures having ground contact, said monitor comprising:
- a processor;
- a cellular modem interfaced to said processor;
- and
- at least one analog sensor interfaced to said processor, said monitor configured with a wake-up cycle, and during the wake up cycle, said monitor configured to cause a connection to be made to a testing point for the corrosion mitigation device and configured to measure at least one voltage utilizing said sensor, said monitor further configured to transmit the at least one measured voltage utilizing said modem.
A method for adjusting an output of a cathodic protection rectifier, the cathodic protection rectifier connected to a power source and configured to apply a voltage across the pipeline and a reference point in the soil, a cathodic system monitor coupled to the rectifier and further configured to control application of the voltage to the pipeline, the cathodic system monitor configured to communicate with an external computer system, said method comprising:
- receiving at the monitor, a communication from the external system to adjust an output of the rectifier, utilizing at least one of a cellular control channel, a short messaging service cellular channel, and a general packet radio service;
- operating the monitor to adjust the output of the rectifier;
- operating the monitor to measure the adjusted output of the rectifier;
- and
- transmitting the measured output to the external computer system, utilizing at least one of a cellular control channel, a short messaging service cellular channel, and a general packet radio service.
A cathodic protection rectifier system for an underground pipeline, the pipeline configured with a plurality of test points along a length of the pipeline, each electrically connected to the pipeline, said system comprising:
- at least one cathodic rectifier coupled to a power source and configured to apply a voltage across the pipeline and a reference point in the soil;
- a cathodic system monitor coupled to said rectifier, said monitor configured to control the voltage said rectifier applies to the pipeline, said monitor further configured to measure voltages and currents applied to the pipeline and to communicate the voltage and current measurements as pipeline test data, said monitor configured to control a switch located between said rectifier and the pipeline;
- and
- a computer system configured to receive the pipeline test data from said cathodic system monitor.
A test point monitor comprising:
- a processor;
- a cellular modem interfaced to said processor;
- and
- at least one sensor interfaced to said processor, said monitor configured to cause a connection to be made to a testing point to monitor operation of corrosion mitigation equipment for one or more of well casings, critical bonds between two or more underground structures, and underground pipelines, said monitor further configured to transmit data relating to the operation of the corrosion mitigation equipment utilizing said modem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.