Method and apparatus to export fluid without discharge
A method and system for pipeline purging with reduced environmental impact. A vacuum and/or compressor system purges air or other gases from at least a section of the pipeline to create a vacuum in the pipeline. The vacuum can then be replaced with a fuel gas, avoiding a mixing of fuel and oxidant in the pipeline. The vacuum and/or compressor system can include a fuel gas monitoring leak-detection system to monitor for fuel presence in the purging air.
1. A method for pipeline purging, the method comprising:
creating a vacuum within at least a section of the pipeline by purging air or other non-combustible gases from the at least a section of the pipeline with a vacuum and/or compressor system, wherein the air is purged through an exhaust port of the vacuum and/or compressor system to an external environment;
monitoring via sensors for any fuel gas within the purging air; and
automatically issuing an alarm and/or automatically stopping the vacuum and/or compressor system upon detection of a predetermined dangerous level of the fuel gas, at a value approaching a lower explosive limit for the fuel gas in the pipeline; and
filling the vacuum with a fuel gas.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas is a flammable gas.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas includes natural gas, hydrogen, and/or methane.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
closing a fuel gas inlet to the at least a section of the pipeline before the creating the vacuum; and
opening the fuel gas inlet upon reaching a predetermined vacuum pressure within the at least a section of the pipeline.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum and/or compressor system is attached to the pipeline via an interlock system that allows operator access to the at least a section of the pipeline for gas sampling.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum removes existing fuel gas for pipeline repair or decommissioning.
7. A method for pipeline purging, the method comprising:
creating a vacuum within at least a section of the pipeline by purging air or other non-combustible gases from the at least a section of the pipeline with a vacuum and/or compressor system, wherein the vacuum and/or compressor system is attached to the pipeline via an interlock system that allows operator access to the at least a section of the pipeline for gas sampling; and
filling the vacuum with a fuel gas.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the air is purged through an exhaust port of the vacuum and/or compressor system to an external environment, and further comprising:
monitoring via sensors for any fuel gas within the purging air; and
automatically issuing an alarm and/or automatically stopping the vacuum and/or compressor system upon detection of a predetermined dangerous level of the fuel gas, preferably at a value approaching a lower explosive limit for the fuel gas in the pipeline.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
monitoring the at least a section of the pipeline and/or the vacuum and/or compressor system to identify leaks and/or a concentration of a fluid within at least a section of the pipeline and/or concentrations of fluids within the at least a section of the pipeline or the vacuum and/or compressor system.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
automatically stopping the vacuum and/or compressor system upon detection of a leak.
11. A method for pipeline purging, the method comprising:
closing at least a section of the pipeline from a fuel gas source;
creating a first vacuum within the at least a section of the pipeline by emptying the at least a section of the pipeline of remaining fuel gas;
filling the first vacuum with air;
purging the air from the at least a section of the pipeline with a second vacuum; and
filling the second vacuum with the fuel gas.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
removing the remaining fuel gas to a second pipeline or a storage vessel.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
purging the air through an exhaust port to an external environment.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second vacuums are created with a vacuum and/or compressor system.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
monitoring via sensors for any fuel gas within the purging air; and
automatically issuing an alarm and/or automatically stopping automatically stopping the vacuum and/or the compressor upon detection of a predetermined dangerous level of the fuel gas within the purging air.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second vacuums are created with a vacuum and/or compressor system, and the vacuum and/or compressor system is attached to the pipeline via an interlock system that allows operator access to the at least a section of the pipeline for gas sampling.