System and method for cathodic protection monitoring

Abstract

The system and method of the present application improve pipeline integrity and may optimize operational efficiencies. Using the data that is generated by cathodic protection and pipeline integrity monitoring devices (e.g. rectifier monitoring), the present application utilizes data analytics techniques, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, to improve pipeline integrity operations.

1 . A method for managing a cathodic protection system, the method comprising:
 obtaining data from one or more monitoring units;   transmitting the data to a monitoring system via a communications network;   analyzing the data using machine learning algorithms to manage one or more first system components in the cathodic protection system; and   transmitting control signals to one or more second system components based on the data analysis and algorithm results.   
     
     
         2 . A method for managing a cathodic protection system, the method comprising:
 obtaining data from one or more monitoring units;   transmitting the data to a monitoring system;   determining, from the data, limit set points for one or more first system components; and   updating the limit set points for one or more second system components.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the one or more first system components is one or more of a rectifier, coupon, bond or pipe-to-soil test station. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the one or more second system components is one or more of a rectifier, coupon, bond or pipe-to-soil test station. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the limit set points is an indication that a system component is disconnected or inoperable. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 obtaining data from one or more coupon test stations and from one or more pipe-to-soil test stations.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 or claim 3 , wherein the data is time-series voltage data or time-series current data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 2 to 4 , wherein the set points include voltage, current and resistance. 
     
     
         9 . A method for determining the optimal DC output of a rectifier, the method comprising:
 obtaining data from one or more rectifiers, from one or more coupon test stations, and from one or more pipe-to-soil test stations;   transmitting the data to a monitoring system;   determining from the data an optimal level of one or more operational parameters based on the data; and   adjusting the rectifier current to achieve the optimal level of the one or more operational parameters.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the data is time-series voltage data or time series current data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 or claim 7 , wherein the optimal level of DC current is based on regulatory compliance criteria. 
     
     
         12 . A method for determining optimal DC output of one or more rectifiers, the method comprising:
 obtaining data from the one or more rectifiers;   obtaining AC interference data;   transmitting the data and AC interference data to a monitoring system;   determining from the rectifier data and the AC interference data an optimal level of DC current at the one or more rectifiers;   adjusting the DC output of the rectifier based on the determined optimal DC current level.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the AC interference data is obtained from one or more electromagnetic field (EMF) sensors or from AC load data from a power utility. 
     
     
         14 . A method for generating a classification dataset, the method comprising:
 obtaining data for one or more rectifiers;   fitting the data using a fitting procedure to obtain fit parameters;   determining a location for the one or more rectifiers;   obtaining environmental data for the one or more rectifier location;   classifying the one or more rectifiers based on the environmental data; and   generating the dataset comprising data for each of the one or more rectifiers identifying classification and corresponding fit parameters.   
     
     
         15 . A method for predicting alarm thresholds, the method comprising:
 determining a location of one or more rectifiers;   obtaining environmental data for the location of the one or more rectifiers;   classifying the one or more rectifiers based on the environmental data; and   generating a predicted alarm threshold based on data statistics that correspond to the classification.   
     
     
         16 . A method for determining alarm thresholds, the method comprising:
 obtaining data at one or more rectifiers over a period of time;   fitting the data with a fitting procedure to obtain fit parameters;   classifying the one or more rectifiers based on the fit parameters; and   generating alarm thresholds based on the determined classification.   
     
     
         17 . The method of any one of  claims 11 to 13  wherein the data is time-series resistance data, time-series voltage data or time-series current data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of classifying comprises inputting the fit parameters into a classification logic. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 or 12 , wherein the environmental data is soil temperature data and soil moisture data. 
     
     
         20 . The method of any one of  claims 11 to 16 , wherein the fit parameters include at least one of amplitude, phase offset and y-offset. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 or claim 13 , wherein the fitting procedure is a cosine function or a sine function. 
     
     
         22 . A cathodic protection monitoring system, the system comprising:
 one or more monitoring units for collecting data;   a monitoring subsystem, for receiving the data over a communications network, the monitoring subsystem comprising a processor configured to:
 determine, from the data, limit set points for one or more first system components; and 
 update the limit set points for one or more second system components. 
   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the one or more first system components is one or more of a rectifier, coupon, bond or pipe-to-soil test station. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the one or more second system components is one or more of a rectifier, coupon, bond or pipe-to-soil test station. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the limit set points is an indication that a system component is disconnected or inoperable. 
     
     
         26 . A cathodic protection monitoring system, the system comprising:
 one or more monitoring units for collecting data;   a monitoring subsystem, for receiving the data over a communications network, the monitoring subsystem comprising a processor configured to:
 analyze the data using machine learning algorithms to manage one or more first system components in a cathodic protection system; and 
 transmit, over the communications network, control signals to one or more second system components based on the data analysis and algorithm results. 
   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 or claim 26 , wherein the one or more monitoring units includes rectifier monitors and test station monitors. 
     
     
         28 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor, the processor performs the method of any one of  claims 1 to 21 .