Development of an Autonomous Pipeline Control System

Autonomous operation of oil and gas pipelines is being introduced to the marketplace by utilizing advanced process control and Artificial Intelligence. This Project will explore the use of advanced optimization algorithms in combination with autonomous operation to further increase efficiency of pipelines by continually driving pumps, compressors and valves to achieve the lowest cost operation.
Expected benefits of these efficiencies will be to increase the effective pipeline capacity without building new pipelines, while reducing the amount of energy required in a pipeline’s operation. In the current environment in which building new pipelines is increasingly difficult, maximizing existing assets is critical to both the pipeline operator and upstream producers.

Faculty Supervisor:

Steven Bryant

Student:

Chen Qian

Partner:

Crux OCM

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Mining and quarrying

University:

University of Calgary