WO2013131128A1

WO2013131128A1 - Water accounting apparatus and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2013131128A1
Application number: PCT/AU2013/000204
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guido Stangherlin; Alan Douglas BOUGOURE
Original assignee: Australian Rig Construction Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-06
Filing date: 2013-03-06
Publication date: 2013-09-12
Also published as: AU2013230674A1; AU2016100429A4

Abstract

A trailer chassis (14) supports an engine (17) and alternator (20) supplying an accumulator (21). A regulated power supply supplies electrical power to control means, data processing means and telemetry means. An electric motor (22) drives a pump (23) having an axial inlet (25) connected to an inlet manifold (27) having inlet stubs (30) each having an electrically operated inlet valve (31), and an outlet (26) to an outlet manifold (32) having outlet stubs (33) each having an electrically operated outlet valve (34). Sensors comprise an inlet (35) and outlet (36) side arrays and sense volume flow and composition data, signals passing via cables (37). A control means console (40) operates the power pack (17), (20), electric motor (22) for the pump and electric valves (31), (34), to effect the functions of transfer of water from storage tanks to tankers. The console (40) includes a card swipe reader (41) to free the operations. The console (40) contains a data processor accepting inputs from the sensors (35), (36), and telemetry including a mobile network antenna (42) and a satellite network antenna (43). Data and operations are entered via a touch screen graphical user interface (46).

Description

WATER ACCOUNTING APPARATUS AND METHODS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to water accounting apparatus and methods. This invention has particular application to water accounting apparatus and methods for accounting for water produced at gas production or other drilling sites, and for illustrative purposes the invention will be described with reference to this application. However we envisage that this invention may find use in other applications such as waste and process water accounting generally. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. Coal seam gas production may require handling of waste water. Waste water may derive from groundwater encountered during drilling, or may include tracking water components or other entrainment separated from gases during recovery. The water may be contained at the surface by impoundment in surface dams or the like, or may be stored in tanks. Ideally, waste water would be processed at or close to the point of production to a dischargeable and/or reusable standard. However, this is often not the case.

As expected, environmental protection agencies are interested in an accounting for water derived from extractive processes. In addition contractors for water transportation, storage and treatment need to account for volume and quality of water. The accounting to date has principally been based on indirect means such as on counting tankage for volumes and periodic testing for quality. Such arrangements are inherently inaccurate, open to falsification, and unable to be responded to in real time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention resides broadly in bulk liquid accounting apparatus including:

an inlet accepting liquid from a liquid storage;

pump means delivering said liquid from said inlet to an outlet;

a flow sensor in a liquid conduit between said inlet and said outlet and providing a volume signal corresponding to the volume of liquid passing from said inlet to said outlet;

control means including a user interface providing control of said pump; data processing means accepting input corresponding to operation of said control means and said volume signal and generating a real time report in respect thereof; and

telemetry means associated with said processing means and adapted to transmit said report to a remote database. The liquid may comprise process water such as gas recovery process water.

There may be provided a sampling sensor means located in the liquid conduit between the inlet the outlet and providing a sampling signal corresponding to the composition of the liquid passing from the inlet to the outlet. The data processing means may accept input corresponding to operation of the control means, the volume signal and the sampling signal, and generating a real time composite report in respect thereof.

The liquid accounting apparatus may be a fixed or transhippable installation. In the case of process water handling, the accounting apparatus may be either permanently or semi-permanently associated with the process water storage. The liquid accounting apparatus may be a trailerable assembly. The liquid accounting assembly may comprise a trailer mounted assembly which may be vehicle towed from storage site to storage site.

The inlet may be controlled by an inlet valve operable in concert with the pump. The inlet may comprise a manifold having multiple inlet attachment points each controlled by a respective inlet valve. Inlet valves may be remotely controlled by the control means.

The inlet may be associated with filtration means for controlling the particulate quality of the incoming liquid such as process water.

In the case of process water, the liquid storage may be a dam such a turkey nest dam or other earthen impoundment. Alternatively, the process water storage may be a tank farm or the like. In certain embodiments of the invention the process water storage may comprise a plurality of road freight-able steel tanks such as tanks configured on a shipping container section.

The pump means may be selected from pumps suitable for transfer of the liquid and, in the case of process water, of a given quality and expected quantity. For example, for most process waters centrifugal pumps may be suitable.

The pump may be driven by any suitable motive means such as an electric motor or internal combustion engine. It is envisaged that in CSG applications a fixed installation may use natural case to power an engine directly coupled to the pump. In this case the control means may include clutch means to provide control of pump operation, or bypass/recirculation means for control of flow to the outlet. However, it is preferred that the pump be electrically powered. The electric power may be provided from the local grid or remote-area e.g. diesel or gas turbine generator means. In the case of self-propelled, trailer mounted or transportable means, the pump may be electric and associated with a co-located power pack comprising an internal combustion engine and generator assembly. In this case the operation of the power pack may be managed and monitored from the user interface. The outlet may be controlled by an outlet valve operable in concert with the pump. The outlet may comprise a manifold having multiple outlet attachment points each controlled by a respective outlet valve. Outlet valves may be remotely controlled by the control means. The outlet may be configured as part of a quick release coupling such as for connection to delivery hose such that process water may be delivered to a tanker or the like for transport.

The flow sensor may be located in the liquid path proper between the inlet and the outlet, or may be located in a parallel shunt path, whereby the measured volume signal is proportional to the actual volumetric flow. The flow sensor may comprise a paddlewheel transducer, Doppler sensor or any other flow sensor known for the purpose of providing a signal corresponding to the volume of process water passing through a conduit.

The water sampling sensor means may include any one or more water sensors capable of generating a signal or data corresponding to a given characteristic or quality of the process water. For example, the water sampling sensors may include any one or more of sensors detecting turbidity, other suspended-solids measure, salinity, dissolved solids or gases, temperature, pH or any other characteristic measurable by sensor. Further the water sampling sensor may include drawing of liquid sample for automated chromatography, photometry, spectroscopy (including mass spectroscopy) or the like. The control means may comprise a microprocessor based control means either permanently or removable associated with the apparatus. For example, the control means may be provided with a secure interface cable connectable to the apparatus via a hardware interface secured permanently to the apparatus. The user interface may comprise a graphic user interface. Preferably the graphic user interface is accessed via a touch screen I/O means to avoid using input devices such as keyboards and mice in the industrial environment. The control means may be configured to be operated by operators who are also the customer's representative. The control means may for example be initiated by a swipe card or other secure means.

The data processing means may be integrated with the microprocessor based control means or may be connected thereto via an interface. The real time composite report generated by the data processing means may comprise a digital file compatible with a program such as a word processor, spread sheet or database management software. Alternatively, the composite report may comprise a proprietary data format, encrypted data and/or ASCII data. The report may be in the form of an email. Alternatively the data processing means may utilize the telemetry means to form a web interface.

The telemetry may comprise a digital signal on the licensed spectrum for two-way radio such as HF/MF, VHF or UHF. The telemetry may comprise an interface with a mobile telephony network such as CDMA, GSM or GPRS networks. The telemetry may comprise a subscription to a satellite phone system such as IRIDIUM and INMARSAT. The telemetry may include two or more different telemetry system to provide redundancy and coverage. For example, the data processing means may select a digital mobile phone network where available, and the more expensive to use satellite phone/data system where necessary. The telemetry may be operated by the data processing means to transmit the composite report on either a continuous or intermittence basis. The data processing means may include an accumulative log which may be periodically uploaded for audit purposes. The data processing means may accept position data from the GPS or other satellite or beacon based positioning system including differential systems.

The data processing means may include a log function that interfaces with water transport means, whereby RFID or other electronic logging means associated with a water transport vehicle may be updated to log the load taken on from the outlet.

In a further aspect the invention resides broadly in a method of bulk liquid accounting including the steps of:

transferring said liquid by means of a pump and automated valves selectively operable by a human interface over a PLC;

monitoring said transferred liquid for a parameter selected from one or more of salt, acidity, chlorine, BOD, suspended solids and petrochemical content;

monitoring the volume of said liquid transferred;

terminating the transferring of said liquid at a selected point; capturing data corresponding to the monitored parameter and volume to data storage associated with said PLC; and

transmitting said data to a database. The transfer of liquid may be from bulk storage to a truck tanker or pipeline.

The data capture may be an event that results in one or more signalling steps. For example, as a matter apart from the capture of audit data, the event may trigger the sending of an automatic email or the like, such as would assist the carrier in billing.

The method may include further inputs. For example, where the storage permits the method may include monitoring a storage of said bulk liquid by a level sensor. The signal of an ultrasonic detector, probe, or infra-red may provide an input. The method may further include monitoring the location of the system, such as by GPS or the like, with or without a differential system.

The selective operation may be initiated by secure means. For example, operation of the human interface may be initiated by an operator by means selected from a swipe card /touch tag and touch screen.

The system can be used for monitoring liquid transport via tankers or to pipeline. The modularization allows the use of multiple systems on any given site. The liquid containment can be either in-ground pits, tanks, bores or wells, dams or the like. The containment on one site may include several containments which may be of varying types of liquids.

Data may be uploaded on a regular basis from the system to the database. The data within the database may be reviewed and distributed to the operator by, for example, a report sent to a gas company showing the volumes and type of liquids moved from a site. In a further aspect the present invention resides broadly in a water accounting method including:

accepting process water into a process water storage;

batch mode delivering said process water to water transport means;

continuously monitoring said batch mode delivery for volume of flow and generating a volume signal;

data processing said volume signal to generate a real time report in respect thereof; and

transmitting said report to a remote database to permit accounting of said process water.

The continuous monitoring may include monitoring composition, whereby a sampling signal is generated, and whereby the data processing means processes the sampling signal with the volume signal to produce a composite report.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the following non-limiting embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an overview of a fixed installation in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a process in accordance with the present invention ; Fig. 3 is a plan view of mobile apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 there is provided an overview of a transportable (but not mobile) modular tank farm 10 is designed be used in situations where turkey nest or other earthen impoundments are not feasible or allowed due to environmental restrictions. The individual tank units 1 1 are associated with a transportable liquid transfer pumping and water accounting assembly 12, pumping water with monitoring to a water tanker 13. The liquid transfer pumping and water accounting assembly 12 provides data monitoring on the contractor receiving/distributing liquid, the amount of liquid being transferred, and the geographical location of pumping system. The information includes notification emailed from system to contractor and operator on each transaction, pre-determined checks on liquid transfers (for monitoring invoicing and liquid losses in transit), the ability to monitor tank levels in real time through remote access, and the ability to use data for waste tracking certificate, trending, incident and similar data post processing. The equipment used to gather and generate reports includes swipe cards and reader, and a touch screen display.

In the process flow chart of Fig. 2, the key is as follows:

1 . Liquid Sampling

a. Monitor liquid entering and exiting the system

b. Monitors for salt, acidity, chlorine, BOD, Suspended Solids, petrochemical.

2. Flow Sensor

a. Used to monitor volume of liquid flow into and out of system

3. Automated Valves

a. Air, electric or hydraulically actuated

b. Controlled by the HMI/ PLC

4. Level Sensor

a. can be ultrasonic, probe, infra red etc

b. used to monitor liquid levels within Liquid Containment

5. GPS receiver

a. global positioning system receiver fitted to allow real time tracking of system location

6. System can take liquid from or pump out liquid transport, there may also be multiple systems on any given site

7. Liquid transport can be either through liquid tanker or piping from point to point

8. Liquid containment a. can be either in-ground pits, tanks, bores or wells, dams etc b. containment on one site may include several containments which may of be of varying types of liquids

Pump is controlled by the HMI/PLC

HMI/PLC

a. stands for Human Interface / Programmable Logic Controller b. interface with operator is through swipe card /touch tag and touch screen

c. PLC monitors and controls the sensors throughout the system

Email / Database

a. on completion of each transaction or event, for example, a truck takes on a load of liquid, an email is sent to the operator and the subcontractor for billing purposes

b. Data is uploaded on a regular basis from the system to the database. The data within the database is reviewed and distributed to the operator by, for example, a report sent to a gas company showing the volumes and type of liquids moved from a site.

In the mobile apparatus of Figs. 3 to 7, there is provided a rolling chassis 14 having a trailer hitch 15 and jockey wheel 16 to form a stable platform. The rolling chassis 14 supports a power pack comprising a diesel engine 17 and alternator 20. A DC accumulator 21 comprising a 24V lead acid wet or glass fibre mat cell bank provides for self-starting and, through a regulated power supply, electrical power to the control means, data processing means and telemetry means.

An AC electric motor 22 powered by the alternator 20 direct drives a centrifugal pump 23 via a flexible coupling 24. The pump has an axial inlet 25 and a radial outlet 26 as is the nature of such pumps. The axial inlet 25 is connected to an inlet manifold 27 having three rearward and two sideward directed inlet stubs 30 each having a respective electrically operated inlet valve 31 and terminated by respective hose connection couplers. The radial outlet 26 is connected to an outlet manifold 32 having three rearward and two sideward directed outlet stubs 33 each having a respective electrically operated outlet valve 34 and terminated by respective hose connection couplers.

Two sets of comparative sensor arrays are an inlet side array 35 and an outlet side array 36 in the liquid flow from the pump and sense both volume flow and composition data. The sensor arrays 35, 36 transmit their signals via cables 37.

A console 40 securely contains control means operating the power pack 17, 20, electric motor 22 for the pump and electric valves 31 , 34, to effect the gross functions of transfer of water from storage tanks to tankers. The console 40 includes a card swipe reader 41 to free the operations. The console 40 contains a data processor accepting inputs from the sensors 35, 36, and a telemetry unit having a mobile network antenna 42 and a satellite network antenna 43. A strobe light 44 and audible alarm 45 provides distance indication of operation. Data and operations are entered via a touch screen graphical user interface 46.

The monitoring system ensures that operators can monitor and control all events associated with handling large volumes of liquids. The monitoring is used to ensure the risk of spillage of liquid is mitigated by measuring inflow, outflow and tank levels. Data collected from monitoring is uploaded to a server at each event (truck fill operation) or on demand. This information can be used for invoicing, contractor performance monitoring, investigation (liquid losses during transport) and trending of well performance. Intended Operation

1 . 15 inch touch screen will display the Company name, registration details of trailer and the capacity size of trailer. The capacity will be an editable field allowing the driver to change the amount of liquid received.

2. SMS will be sent to owner/operator to inform them that driver has logged into system for collection. Modem will be dual NextG/Satellite.

3. Touch screen will also display on another page the tank levels, valve status, pump status etc. 4. Once driver logged in, pipe connected and capacity selected then driver can touch fill button and process will start until capacity reached, then automatically stop.

5. Once driver logged in, pipe connected and capacity selected then driver can touch fill button and process will start until capacity reached, then automatically stop.

6. The database can be accessed remotely by the company to allow them to gather information about the companies transactions. Access will be through a Web interface and a log in will be required, this will only allow access to the company information.

7. The tanks will fill and unload in an automatic sequence. The tanks will be bought in and out of service depending upon the level in the tanks.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1 . Bulk liquid accounting apparatus including:

an inlet accepting liquid from a liquid storage;

pump means delivering said liquid from said inlet to an outlet;

telemetry means associated with said processing means and adapted to transmit said report to a remote database.

2. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises process water, the liquid storage being selected from a dam such a turkey nest dam or other earthen impoundment, tank farm, and a plurality of road freight-able tanks.

3. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , including a sampling sensor means located in the liquid conduit between the inlet the outlet and providing a sampling signal corresponding to the composition of the liquid passing from the inlet to the outlet.

4. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data processing means accepts input corresponding to operation of the control means, the volume signal and the sampling signal, and generating a real time composite report in respect thereof.

5. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises process water and wherein the apparatus is selected from permanent or semi-permanent apparatus associated with a process water storage comprising said liquid storage.

7. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises process water and wherein the apparatus comprises a trailer mounted assembly adapted to be vehicle towed from storage site to storage site.

8. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet is be controlled by an inlet valve operable in concert with the pump.

9. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inlet comprises a manifold having multiple inlet attachment points each controlled by a respective said inlet valve.

10. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pump is electric and associated with a co-located power pack comprising an internal combustion engine and generator assembly managed and monitored from the user interface.

1 1 . Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet is controlled by an outlet valve operable in concert with the pump.

12. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 1 , wherein the outlet comprises a manifold having multiple outlet attachment points each controlled by a respective outlet valve.

13. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flow sensor comprises a paddlewheel transducer, Doppler sensor or any other flow sensor known for the purpose of providing a signal corresponding to the volume of a process water passing through a conduit.

14. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid is process water and the water sampling sensor means includes any one or more water sensors capable of generating a signal or data corresponding to a given characteristic or quality of process water.

15. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the water sampling sensors include any one or more of sensors detecting turbidity, other suspended-solids measure, salinity, dissolved solids or gases, temperature, pH, chlorine, BOD and petrochemical content.

16. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the water sampling sensor includes drawing of liquid sample for automated chromatography, photometry, spectroscopy (including mass spectroscopy) or the like.

17. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control means comprises a microprocessor based control means including a secure interface cable connectable to the apparatus via a hardware interface secured permanently to the apparatus.

18. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 7, wherein the user interface comprises a graphic user interface.

19. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control means is initiated by a swipe card or other secure means.

20. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the data processing means is integrated with the microprocessor based control means.

21 . Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the real time composite report generated by the data processing means comprises a digital file compatible with a program such as a word processor, spread sheet or database management software, or a proprietary data format, encrypted data and/or ASCII data.

22. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the real time composite report is in the form of an email.

23. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the data processing means utilizes the telemetry means to form a wireless internet protocol (IP) address web interface.

24. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the telemetry is selected from one or more of a digital signal on the licensed spectrum for two-way radio such as HF/MF, VHF or UHF, an interface with a mobile telephony network such as CDMA, GSM or GPRS networks, a subscription to a satellite phone system such as IRIDIUM and INMARSAT.

25. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing means includes an accumulative log for audit purposes.

26. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing means accepts position data from the GPS or other satellite or beacon based positioning system including differential systems.

27. Bulk liquid accounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing means includes a log function that interfaces with water transport means, whereby RFID or other electronic logging means associated with a water transport vehicle may be updated to log the load taken on from the outlet.

28. A method of bulk liquid accounting including the steps of:

monitoring the volume of said liquid transferred;

transmitting said data to a database.

29. A method according to Claim 28, wherein said transfer of liquid is from the bulk storage to a truck tanker.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein said data capture is an avevnt that results in an email being automatically sent.

31 . A method according to Claim 28, further including monitoring a storage of said bulk liquid by a level sensor.

32. A method according to Claim 28, further including monitoring the location of the system.

33. A method according to Claim 28, wherein said selective operation is initiated by an operator by means selected from a swipe card /touch tag and touch screen.

34. A water accounting method including:

accepting process water into a process water storage;

batch mode delivering said process water to water transport means;