中國石化新聞網訊 據今日油價12月17日報導，每年監測和維護管道的費用消耗能源公司支出的大約14億美元。如果創新的解決方案能夠通過自動化監控和通過智能技術溝通維護問題來幫助控制成本，將具有重要意義。當前已有將無人機用於管道監控，也有一些公司正通過為管道創建智能解決方案，直接從源頭入手解決問題。
智能管道是油氣行業解決監測和維護問題的方法之一。智能管道能夠實現遠程跟蹤、監視和控制，以便在出現任何問題時及時進行監測。由加州一家公司發明的Bytepipe預計將於2021年完成，並在2022年完成改進版本。
該設想是將傳感器和電子元件集成到管道套管中，為其提供智能功能，在2019年的市場需求超過1400萬噸，該技術將為勘探和生產公司提供油氣井井下實時監測和管道全長跟蹤。
目前，油氣公司在地面管道和設備方面的支出約為5.89億美元，在井下管道方面的支出為4.63億美元，在維修方面的支出為3.2億美元。管道受腐蝕是石油行業面臨的一個困境，會導致管道破舊甚至洩漏。
2006年發生的管道腐蝕和洩漏事件對英國石油公司造成了毀滅性的打擊。2011年，該公司因阿拉斯加的管道漏油事件被迫支付了2500萬美元的罰款。隨著能源公司意識到早期檢測的重要性，智能檢測方法開始使用，包括遙控水下航行器(ROVs)、電場測繪、聲發射法和超聲波檢測。然而，許多公司仍然依靠人工，如潛水員手動拍照，監控管道。值得一提的是，這些技術都有局限性，包括人工參與清潔設備和數據監測，以及機器在惡劣條件下工作的脆弱性。
自動化圖像處理技術的改進，使用機器學習算法，預計將改善管道問題的監測和通信。這可以與基於人工智慧的圖像處理技術計算機視覺(CV)相結合，更好地識別管道腐蝕狀況。這兩種技術都依賴於大數據來識別和應對問題。
此外，石油公司正慢慢地開始引進用於鋼鐵管道的創新塗層，但這種塗層在惡劣條件下腐蝕速度很快。BP上遊材料總工程師Bill Hedges解釋道:「我們可以看到腐蝕速率為每年2毫米。」此外，考慮到原材料的使用、運輸成本以及石油生產的暫停，簡單地更換腐蝕管道是公司的一項主要開支。據估計，全球能源行業每年與處理管道腐蝕相關的費用可能高達2萬億美元。
BP-ICAM宣布將研究開發具有自我報告能力的智能塗層，如果塗層受損，該塗層將與用戶通信。該技術依賴於微膠囊，這種膠囊在受損時釋放出不同顏色的液體，讓用戶能夠找到問題的根源。
現在最重要的是創造出一種智能塗層，使其能夠承受惡劣的天氣或海底條件，同時也不會對環境造成額外的傷害。
展望未來，智能管道技術、監測實踐中的大數據和防腐蝕塗層的應用，不僅可以為能源行業節省數十億美元，還可以防止環境災害的發生，提高油氣行業的安全實踐。
王佳晶 摘譯自 今日油價
原文如下：
The Pipeline Tech Transforming The Oil Industry
Monitoring and maintenance of pipelines costs energy companies approximately $1.4 billion every year. But what if innovative solutions could help rein in this cost by automating monitoring processes and communicating maintenance issues through smart technology? We’re already starting to see the use of drones for pipeline monitoring purposes, but some companies are going directly to the source by creating smart solutions for pipelines.
Smart pipelines are one of the ways the industry is tackling the issue of monitoring and maintenance. They would allow for remote tracking, monitoring, and control, to communicate any problems as soon as they occur. The Bytepipe, created by a Californian company, is expected to be ready by 2021, with a modified version in 2022.
The idea is to integrate sensors and electronic components into pipeline casings to provide them with smart capabilities, in a market with over 14 million metric tons of demand in 2019. The technology will provide Exploration and Production companies with real-time downhole monitoring in oil and gas wells and tracking across the length of the pipeline
At present, oil and gas companies spend around $589 million on surface pipeline and facility expenses, $463 million on downhole tubing expenses, and $320 on corrosion costs. Corrosion is a plight for the oil industry, leading to pipeline fatigue and even leaks.
A 2006 case of pipeline corrosion and leaking was devastating for BP, which, in 2011, was forced to pay a $25 million penalty over a pipeline oil leak in Alaska. The leak occurred as heavy corrosion went undetected for five days, resulting in an oil spill devastating the surrounding environment.
Digital detection methods have come into use since the 2011 BP scandal, as energy companies realized the importance of early detection. Some methods include remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), electrical field mapping, the acoustic emission method, and ultrasonic testing. However, many companies still rely on human interaction, such as divers manually taking photos, to monitor pipelines. Additionally, many of these technologies have limitations including human involvement in cleaning devices and data monitoring, as well as the vulnerability of the machinery working in harsh conditions.
Improvements in automated image processing techniques, using machine-learning algorithms, is expected to improve the monitoring and communication of pipeline issues. This could be coupled with computer vision (CV), an AI-based image-processing technique, to better identify pipeline corrosion. Both technologies rely on big data to identify and respond to the issues.
In addition, companies are slowly starting to introduce innovative coatings for steel pipelines, which typically corrode at a rapid rate in harsh conditions. Bill Hedges, BP’s chief engineer for upstream materials explained, 「We can see corrosion rates of 2mm a year」. And simply replacing corroded pipelines is a major expense to companies due to the use of materials, transportation costs, and the halt in oil production. Estimates say costs linked with corrosion in the energy industry could be as high as $2 trillion globally each year.
BP-ICAM has announced research into the development of smart coatings with self-reporting abilities, which would communicate with the user if it was damaged. The technology relies on microcapsules, which release a different colored liquid when damaged, allowing the user to locate the source of the problem.
The task now is to strike the balance with creating a smart coating for pipelines that will withstand harsh weather or undersea conditions but will not cause added harm to the environment.
Going forward, the use of smart pipeline technology, big data in monitoring practices, and corrosion-resistant coatings would not only save the energy industry billions but could prevent environmental disaster and enhance safety practices in oil and gas.