SWATS: Wireless sensor networks for steamflood and waterflood pipeline monitoring

Abstract

Abstract-State-of-the-art anomaly detection systems deployed in the oilfields are expensive, not scalable to a large number of sensors, require manual operation, and provide data with a long delay. To overcome these problems, we design a wireless sensor network system that detects, identifies, and localizes major anomalies such as blockage and leakage that arise in steamflood and waterflood pipelines in oilfields. A sensor network consists of small, inexpensive nodes equipped with embedded processors and wireless communication, which enables flexible deployment and close observation of phenomena without human intervention. Our sensor network based system, SWATS (Steamflood and WAterflood Tracking System), aims to allow continuous monitoring of the steamflood and waterflood systems with low cost, short delay, and fine granularity coverage while providing high accuracy and reliability. The anomaly detection and identification is challenging because of the inherent inaccuracy and unreliability of sensors and the transient characteristics of the flows. Moreover, observation by a single node cannot capture the topological effects on the transient characteristics of steam and water fluid to disambiguate similar problems and false alarms. We address these hurdles by utilizing multi-modal sensing and multi-sensor collaboration and exploiting temporal and spatial patterns of the sensed phenomena.

Power requirements and battery life measurement for wireless transmission between two nodes in different mediums

“…The sensor network architectures generally used for reliable communication in pipeline systems are based on wired networks, wireless networks, or a combination of both. Typical applications [7,8], include the case of sensors embedded in the outer surface of a pipeline. This linear sensor arrangement is the result of their linear topology.…”

Scalable Nodes Deployment Algorithm for the Monitoring of Underwater Pipeline

“…SWATS [15] It requires cross check on the part of the neighbouring nodes along the trajectory of the fluid to validate the nodes. It integrates SCADA and assumes the static addressing for nodes and control units.…”

Networking lessons: From computers to water

“…Therefore a key problem is the placement of sensors to minimize parameters such as the detection time, contamination spread, exposure, etc. This problem has began to draw the attention of water distribution experts [1] and computer networking researchers [11], [28]. Storage location and management: Increasingly, decentralized waste-water treatment is becoming popular in both developed and developing economies [24].…”

“…Water networks as an application domain for computer networking: Recently, networking researchers have begun to consider water networks as an application domain. Most work here [7], [12], [11], [22], [28] revolves around the use of wireless sensor networks to monitor the operational parameters of water distribution such as leaks, blocks, pressure drops etc. Our work is different from these in the sense that it does not use computer networks as a mechanism in water networks; rather it borrows policy (principles) behind the solutions for computer networking problems.…”