A stand-alone long-distance closed-loop heat energy capture, conveyance, and delivery system, comprises three closed-loop modules in serial communication. The first module is in communication with a first closed-loop piping infrastructure interconnected with a source of heat energy, and has a LBP liquid circulating therein whereby the LBP liquid is converted into its gas phase when flowing through the source of heat energy thereby capturing a portion of heat energy therefrom, and is converted into its liquid phase when flowing through a first heat exchanger that transfers the captured-heat energy to a second closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein also is circulating a LBP liquid. The second closed-loop module may extend for long distances. The captured-heat energy in the second module is transferred to a third closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein is also circulating a LBP liquid. The captured-heat energy is transferred from the third module to a delivery site.

A method and system for pipeline purging with reduced environmental impact. A vacuum and/or compressor system purges air or other gases from at least a section of the pipeline to create a vacuum in the pipeline. The vacuum can then be replaced with a fuel gas, avoiding a mixing of fuel and oxidant in the pipeline. The vacuum and/or compressor system can include a fuel gas monitoring leak-detection system to monitor for fuel presence in the purging air.

In one embodiment, a pipeline interchange is described where a first product flows through a first pipeline and a second product flows through a second pipeline. In this embodiment, a first product automated analyzer is situated near the first pipeline to physical and/or chemically analyze the first product and generate first product data. Additionally, in this embodiment, a second product automated analyzer is situated near the second pipeline to physical and/or chemically analyze the second product and generate second product data. A pipeline interchange is connected downstream to both the first pipeline and the second pipeline, wherein the pipeline interchange blends the first product flowing through the first pipeline with the second product flowing through the second pipeline. A third pipeline is connected downstream to the pipeline interchange, wherein the third pipeline flows a blended product created from the blending of the first product and the second product in the pipeline interchange. A data analyzer is also positioned to interpret the first product data and the second product data and communicate adjustments to the flow of both the first product and the second product to achieve desired physical and/or chemical characteristics in the blended product.

In one embodiment, a process is taught where the process begins by flowing a first product through a first pipeline and flowing a second product through a second pipeline. In this embodiment, the first product in the first pipeline is analyzed with a first product automated analyzer that is capable of physical and/or chemically analyzing the first product in the first pipeline and generating a first product data. Additionally, in this embodiment, the second product in the second pipeline is analyzed with a second product automated analyzer that is capable of physical and/or chemically analyzing the second product in the second pipeline and generating a second product data. The process then produces a blended product by mixing both the first product and the second product within a pipeline interchange which is connected downstream to both the first pipeline and the second pipeline. The blended product then flows from the pipeline interchange to a third pipeline that is connected downstream of pipeline interchange. The first product data and the second product data is then interpreted in a data analyzer by comparing the physical and/or chemical characteristics of the physical and/or chemical characteristics of the first data to an optimal first data and the physical and/or chemical characteristics of the second data to an optimal second data. The data analyzer then determines the adjustments in the flow of the first product and the flow of the second product to achieve optimal blended data from the blended product. The adjustments are then communicated to adjust the flow of the first product in the first pipeline and the flow of the second product in the second pipeline.

An automated method of pipeline sensor integration for product mapping of a pipeline network is provided. The method includes acquiring, by a plurality of sensors of the pipeline network, first sensor responses of a pipeline in the pipeline network when a first hydrocarbon product is flowing through the pipeline. The method further includes using a prediction circuit to receive the acquired first sensor responses, integrate the received first sensor responses into one or more integrated first sensor responses in order to improve accuracy of the received first sensor responses, and identify the first hydrocarbon product in the pipeline based on the integrated first sensor responses. The prediction circuit is built from training data using a machine learning process. The training data includes first training sensor responses of the pipeline by the plurality of sensors acquired at a previous time when the first hydrocarbon product was flowing through the pipeline.

A method and system for operating a pipeline conveying two dissimilar materials that gathers data about material flowing in the pipeline, identifies a first line and determines a slope of the first line of a first subset of the gathered data, and if an absolute value of the slope of the first line equals or exceeds a first threshold value, then sends a message indicating that transmix has been detected; identifies a second line and determines a slope of the second line of a second subset of the gathered data, and if an absolute value of the slope of the second line equals or is less than a second threshold value, then sends a message indicating that transmix has ended. A position of at least one valve is modified in response to the message that transmix has ended.

A method and system for operating a pipeline conveying two dissimilar materials that gathers data about material flowing in the pipeline, identifies a first line and determines a slope of the first line of a first subset of the gathered data, and if an absolute value of the slope of the first line equals or exceeds a first threshold value, then sends a message indicating that transmix has been detected; identifies a second line and determines a slope of the second line of a second subset of the gathered data, and if an absolute value of the slope of the second line equals or is less than a second threshold value, then sends a message indicating that transmix has ended. A position of at least one valve is modified in response to the message that transmix has ended.

A pump station positioned to receive a first flow of fluid from a pipeline and to discharge a second flow of fluid into the pipeline includes an interface detection instrument positioned at an upstream point and operable to measure a sonic velocity, a temperature, and a flow rate of the fluid at the upstream point. A first pump is operable at a first speed to receive the first flow of fluid and discharge a pressurized flow of fluid, a first discharge pressure controller is positioned within the pressurized flow of fluid and operable to control the pressure of the pressurized flow of fluid, and a control assembly is coupled to the interface detection instrument to receive the measured sonic velocity, temperature, and flow rate. The control assembly is operable to calculate a desired pump speed based at least in part on the measured sonic velocity and temperature and a variable frequency drive is coupled to the control assembly and is operable to adjust the first speed to match the desired speed at or before the arrival at the first pump of the fluid measured at the upstream point.

A pump station positioned to receive a first flow of fluid from a pipeline and to discharge a second flow of fluid into the pipeline includes an interface detection instrument positioned at an upstream point and operable to measure a sonic velocity, a temperature, and a flow rate of the fluid at the upstream point. A first pump is operable at a first speed to receive the first flow of fluid and discharge a pressurized flow of fluid, a first discharge pressure controller is positioned within the pressurized flow of fluid and operable to control the pressure of the pressurized flow of fluid, and a control assembly is coupled to the interface detection instrument to receive the measured sonic velocity, temperature, and flow rate. The control assembly is operable to calculate a desired pump speed based at least in part on the measured sonic velocity and temperature and a variable frequency drive is coupled to the control assembly and is operable to adjust the first speed to match the desired speed at or before the arrival at the first pump of the fluid measured at the upstream point.

Methods and systems for, among other embodiments, transporting renewable diesel (RD) through a pipeline, or a portion thereof, are provided. In certain embodiments, the method may include transporting the renewable diesel from a first pipeline terminal to a second pipeline terminal, the renewable diesel wrapped head and tail with a compatible diesel fuel. The method may also include restricting the transport of the diesel fuel in the pipeline to diesel fuel compositions having a first composition or first specification, the first composition or first specification characterized by a selected amount of the renewable diesel, or a component thereof, the selected amount being less than the selected amount allowed in a second target specification for the diesel fuel. The method may also include combining, at the second pipeline terminal, at least a portion of the mixed interface fraction stream with at least a portion of the diesel fuel fraction stream so as to produce a diesel fuel stream meeting the second target specification.