PRODUCT INVENTORY MONITORING

Abstract

The present invention defines six unexpected benefits resulting from the automation of and improvements to inventory reconciliation and tank level monitoring at tank farms, terminals and refineries, commonly associated with refining and the transportation of, hydrocarbon fuels. In the implementation of an automated system for tank level monitoring and periodic inventory reconciliation, it has been discovered that both applications can be used to correctly identify maintenance needs and policy violations that were previously unable to be identified. The benefits include identification of thermal relief valve failure, transmix check valve failure, lock out/tag out failure, floating roof landing, and incorrect tank assignments.

Claims

1. Automation and improvements to inventory reconciliation and tank level monitoring at tank farms, terminals and refineries have provided unexpected benefits for the identification of maintenance needs and policy violations that were previously unable to be identified, such benefits include: the identification of failing thermal relief valves that are unable to be tested due to location and product placement; visualizing tank alarm information with planned movement entries to provide data that detects when product is misdirected through a failed thermal relief valve; and monitoring of the level and volume of tanks to determine that product is being diverted to an improper location or unexpected location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tank monitoring system indicates a slow continuous loss of product from a tank over an extended period, indicating that a check valve for a transmix tank has failed; the failure of a check valve for a transmix tank allows product to flow to the oil waters separator from the transmix tank; such flow is a reversal of a normal check valve operation wherein the check valve only allows water to flow from the oil water separator to the transmix tank.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the level of the transmix tank is continuously monitored to view increasing and decreasing changing levels that are improperly occurring over time.

4. The method of claim 1 applied to the application of lock out/tag out isolation of equipment; wherein the tank level monitoring data from tanks surrounding the locked out/tagged out tank identifies tanks that may have an open pathway to receive and transfer product to the equipment being locked out/tagged out.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein data received from the tank level monitoring system and the periodic inventory reconciliation system is used to identify floating roof landings at tank farms; wherein the floating roofs have legs that are shorter during operational phases and can be extended for maintenance phases; such a roof landing on the bottom of the tank triggering a pattern of alarms; the first alarm occurring at tank level monitoring followed by a second alarm by the periodic inventory reconciliation system; the first alarm in tank level monitoring will sound as the tank level and volume continues to increase after loading completes, settling out at a level higher than the recorded levels at the end of the truck loading; the second alarm in the inventory reconciliation data is triggered by a discrepancy between the amount of product recorded as being loaded and the amount of product being ordered; wherein the alarms indicate that the product level in the tank, combined with the shape of the inventory reconciliation curve, indicates that product is draining from around the internal floating roof of the tank.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein rack loading and ordering data at tank farms are compared, using data and results from periodic inventory reconciliation; such comparisons provide indications that an improper tank is being loaded to a specific truck; wherein such comparisons between what was ordered at the rack and what is being delivered and what tank it is coming from will prevent inventory discrepancies, floating roof landings, and environmental regulation violations.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a terminal operator monitors and alarms tanks that are in receipt mode to ensure that product continues to flow into the tank at an expected rate; if the rate drops or seizes, an alarm is programmed to notify the operators that the pipeline is shutdown.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0032] The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a graph that depicts a thermal relief failure.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a graph that depicts a check valve failure.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a graph that depicts a lock out/tag out failure.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a graph that depicts a tank roof landing.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a graph that depicts a tank roof landing bounce.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a graph that depicts a misdirected flow.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a graph that depicts a tank level decreasing due to truck loading, with no associated meter activity changes

[0040] FIG. 8 is a graph that depicts the level of a second tank that is not decreasing, despite repeated requests to load trucks at the rack.

[0041] FIG. 9 is a graph that depicts an improperly seated valve.

FAILED THERMAL RELIEF VALVES

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 1, the first unexpected benefit disclosed by the variations provided by the sensors involves the identification of failing thermal relief valves. A thermal relief valve is a temperature valve that will release and divert product to avoid pressure within the system exceeding safe limits. There are a number of thermal relief valves that cannot be tested because the product or the pipe location is not safe. Testing is omitted and therefore, the only option is to replace the valve if there is believed to be a failure. When a thermal relief valve fails, it diverts product to the transmix tank rather than the destination. The transmix tank is a refuge tank which is a mixture of all petroleum products at a terminal that will be sent back to the refinery for secondary refinement.

[0043] Thermal relief valves fail through normal wear and tear at the terminals. To protect against undetected failures, terminals are required to test the valves twice annually. There are, however, locations where the valves cannot be easily tested and failures may go undetected for long periods of time, in some cases years. Combining tank alarm information with planned movement entries provides data that detects when a product is misdirected through a failed thermal relief valve to the transmix tank. This action mitigates potential product release issues and tank over fills. Referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that, the first incident of a thermal relief valve failure appears to be recurring over multiple years prior to being identified. The second instance of a thermal relief valve failure has been occurring for less than a month. In the instance of FIG. 1, a thermal relief valve had failed and was diverting small amounts of product to the transmix tank rather than the finished product tank.

[0044] When a thermal relief valve fails in the open position, it will remain so until replaced. The failure of the thermal relief valve in FIG. 1 was discovered by capturing a line from a transmix tank which indicated the well level of the transmix tank was changing. This indicated that product was flowing into the transmix tank during transport. The loss on a monthly basis was so small it would not have been identifiable at the end of the month reconciliation. By monitoring the level and volume of all tanks, it can be determined that product is being diverted to an improper location or unexpected location.

Failed Check Valves

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 2, a failed check valve is discovered by using the tank monitoring system which shows a slow continuous loss of product volume from the tank over an extended period. Initially this check is for a transmix check valve failure. The product will flow back to the oil water separator when the transmix tank check valve fails. Normally the check valve allows product to flow only from the oil water separator to the transmix tank. A transmix check valve cannot be tested mechanically while it is live. It must be removed from the line and bench tested which requires a lock out and draining of tanks. This particular event is difficult to identify in that product pumps from the oil water separator to the transmix tank. If the check valve fails, the product flows back to the oil water separator where it is then pumped back to the transmix tank and this process continues. In the past, the only way to identify this problem would be to physically notice the oil water separator continuously running by hearing it running in the field. If the oil water separator pump were to fail, there would likely be an environmental spill as the oil water separator generally sits below a transmix tank. The pressure from the transmix tank would likely overflow the oil water separator. Referring to FIG. 2, three such events have been continuously occurring. It can be seen that the transmix level is changing as it is increasing and decreasing over distinct periods of time.

Lock Out/Tag Out Integrity

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 3, one of the most critical tests at a field location is the application of lock out/tag out. Lock out/tag out is applied to isolate equipment and prevent potential releases of product and energy to the surrounding environment as well as ensure the safety of personnel.

[0047] Once all potential energy sources are locked out/tagged out, the tank can be drained and made safe for human entrance.

[0048] During a lock out/tag out the monitors in the tank are actually disabled. Personnel monitor the other surrounding tanks for unexpected changes. Analyzing the tank level monitoring data by watching the level, volume and alarm data from the surrounding tanks, identifies tanks that may have an open pathway to either receive or transfer product to the equipment being locked out/tagged out.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows the tank level being drawn down (1) to a level that is acceptable for the Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) to be applied to the tank, and for maintenance work to being. Approximately 1 hour later the tank level beings to rise, indicating that the tank is not locked out. When the second alarm was received, the terminal was contacted and determined that LOTO missed on one line, allowing product to flow to the tank.

Floating Roof Landings

[0050] The data received from the tank level monitoring system and the periodic inventory reconciliation system unexpectedly allow for operators to identify floating roof landings at tank farms. The large storage tanks have floating roofs that float on the surface of the product contained within the tank. As the product level rises and falls, the roof rises and falls. These floating roofs have legs which can be set to be 3-4 feet long (low) during operation phases but can be extended to be 5 or 6 feet long (high) for maintenance purposes. When the tank needs to be maintained, the legs are extended to the high setting, and the tank is drained of product allowing the roof to rest on the floor of the tank. This allows for personnel to enter the tank for maintenance purposes. If the legs are not set back to the low setting, and product is put in the tank, the legs will hit the bottom is tank is operated in a normal fashion as product exits that tank.

[0051] Accidental floating roof landings during operations often result in environmental incidents and potential mechanical damage to the floating roof and the floor of the tank. Prior to this invention, alarms were set for floating roof landings through the operation center. The alarms function by comparing the current product level in the tank to an operation selected level. This method of operation left a scenario in which floating roofs could land and remain undetected by operations. For instance, if the operation center sets the leg level on a floating roof to high legs using a low legs operation chart there is potential for the floating roof to land on the floor of the tank with product remaining in the tank. Previously, such a condition was discovered only during manual tank inspection and may continue for years unnoticed. Enough roof landings will ultimately rupture the tank, resulting in severe environmental damage.

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 4, there are shown two locations where roof landings are occurring. The first location had been set on high legs, while using the low legs setting, for at least 17 years. The second location has been set on high legs, while suing the low legs settings for at least 15 years. Tanks generally are serviced and maintained once every twenty years. Therefore, if the roof legs are improperly set, roof landings can occur for multiple years. As shown in FIG. 4, the two low data sets where the level fell below 6.5 feet, indicate a roof landing.

[0053] When the legs are set at high, the roof lands at the bottom of the tank when the volume drops. During tank operations, the operators are assuming the legs are in the low position and will often drop the operational volume in the tank to just above the 3-4-foot level. In the instances shown in FIG. 4, the tank level dropped to 4 feet, the feet are set on high and roof landings occur right before the 4 feet level.

[0054] Using the tank level monitoring and periodic inventor reconciliation data, operators can detect potential roof landings. When roof landings occur, a pattern of alarms occur. Referring now to FIG. 5, the first alarm will occur in tank level monitoring followed by an alarm in periodic inventory reconciliation. These alarms occur as the tank level enters and falls out of the critical zone for the tank.

[0055] The first alarm, occurring in tank level monitoring shows a normal truck loading, followed by a bounce in the tank level and volume, which both continue to increase after loading completes, before finally settling out at a level higher than the recorded levels at the end of the truck loading, causing an alarm to occur.

[0056] The second alarm occurs later as the tank volume continues to lower by loading and occurs when the tank level falls out of the critical zone. This alarm occurs within the product inventory reconciliation data and is caused by a discrepancy between the amount of product recorded as being loaded and the amount of product ordered.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows the tank complete loading of a truck at marker 1, at a level of 6.25 feet, immediately followed by an increase in the tank level and volume. At marker 2, it can be seen that the rate of volume increase is slowing over time. The product level in the tank, combined with the shape of the curve indicates that the product is draining from around the internal floating roof of the tank, and then being accounted for by floating level gauge. A call to the terminal was made, when investigated, the confirmed the analysis in Tank Level Monitoring and Periodic Inventory Reconciliation.

Tank Assignments and Inventory Control

[0058] When changing the tank line up at the rack, operations is required to manually update the active tank assignment. Failure to do so may lead to inventory discrepancies, floating roof landings, environmental regulations violations, and product becoming unavailable at the rack.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a comparison of rack loading and ordering data to tank data and results from the periodic inventory reconciliation. FIG. 7 shows tank level decreasing due to loading, however, there is no associated rack activity. FIG. 8 shows tank levels not decreasing however there is a large amount of rack loading activity. These three scenarios lead operators to understand that tank conditions do not match up with rack movements and ordering.

[0060] Operators can now check and find within 1 to 2 loading cycles if an improper tank was assigned to a specific truck. An alarm will sound from a given tank because the level is unexpectedly decreasing. Operators can run a comparison with other tanks to see if those tanks are static. This allows the operations to reconcile product being loaded at the rack to ensure that the correct product and tank is in fact active. Running these comparisons showing on the three read outs of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 can show the comparison between what was ordered at the rack to be delivered, what tank it is coming from and what rack meters are active.

[0061] FIG. 7 shows tank level decreasing due to truck loading, with no associated meter activity changes. This indicates that product should not be going to the truck rack from this tank.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows the level of a second tank is not decreasing, despite repeated requests to load trucks at the rack, as indicated by the meter activity shown in the figure.

[0063] FIG. 9 shows that the invention can also detect when a valve is improperly seated. As shown in FIG. 9, the tank level is slowing increasing. This indicating that product is slowly entering the tank which indicates an improperly seated valve.

Pipeline Delay Detection

[0064] When receiving product from the pipeline delays may occur. The pipeline operator may shutdown the product flow for any number of reasons. While pipeline operators are supposed to contact terminal operators, the sheer number of terminals that reside on any given pipeline could result in hours before notice is received, if it is received at all. This can result in many hours of wasted personnel time while the pipeline is down. Further, there are operational risk associated with being in receipt mode and having no product coming in from the pipeline. Further, a company with multiple terminals may manage product differently among the terminals if it knows in real-time that a pipeline has been shut down. Therefore, there remains a need for a real-time detection system.

[0065] Using the tank level monitors and Periodic Inventory Reconciliation, a terminal operator can now monitor, and even alarm if desired, tanks that are currently in receipt mode to ensure that product continues to flow into the tanks and an expected rate. If this rate drops or ceases, an alarm can be programmed to notify the operators that the pipeline has shut down.