Automated flare control

Abstract

An automated method for controlling flare of a gas oil separation system includes determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare; activating an automated detection and minimization of flare (ADMF) process executed by ADMF logic; determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable value for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeds a corresponding setpoint value for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value: identifying a tag number for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and causing a notification to be sent to an operator to inspect the pressure indicator controllers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling flare of a gas oil separation system, the method comprising:
 determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare;   activating an automated detection and minimization of flare (ADMF) process executed by ADMF logic;   determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable value for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeds a corresponding setpoint value for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and   based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
 identifying a tag number for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and 
 causing a notification to be sent to an operator to inspect the pressure indicator controllers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare comprises comparing a process variable for gas flare against a target setpoint for the gas flare. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers not exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:   determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controller manipulation indicator value is equal to zero;   applying a tight shutoff to each pressure control valve for a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined period of time comprises five minutes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a setpoint value for gas flare; and   determining a new target setpoint for the gas flare.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 comparing plant flare source temperature against gas flare temperature; and   identifying a source of the gas flare based on the comparison of the plant flare source temperature against the gas flare temperature.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the ADMF process comprises:
 determining that an equipment shutdown status indicates that equipment has not been shutdown within a predetermined amount of time prior to the non-routine gas flare;   determining that a gas flare alarm is active; and   determining that an investigation command has been activated.   
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to perform operations comprising:
 determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare;   activating an automated detection and minimization of flare (ADMF) process executed by ADMF logic;   determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable value for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeds a corresponding setpoint value for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and   based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
 identifying a tag number for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and 
 causing a notification to be sent to an operator to inspect the pressure indicator controllers. 
   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of  claim 8 , wherein determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare comprises comparing a process variable for gas flare against a target setpoint for the gas flare. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers not exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
 determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controller manipulation indicator value is equal to zero; 
 applying a tight shutoff to each pressure control valve for a predetermined period of time. 
   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined period of time comprises five minutes. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
 determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a setpoint value for gas flare; and   determining a new target setpoint for the gas flare.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
 comparing plant flare source temperature against gas flare temperature; and   identifying a source of the gas flare based on the comparison of the plant flare source temperature against the gas flare temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of  claim 8 , wherein activating the ADMF process comprises:
 determining that an equipment shutdown status indicates that equipment has not been shutdown within a predetermined amount of time prior to the non-routine gas flare;   determining that a gas flare alarm is active; and   determining that an investigation command has been activated.   
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a gas flare stack;   a gas flare flow meter;   a plurality of pressure control valves; and   a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to perform operations comprising:
 determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare; 
 activating an automated detection and minimization of flare (ADMF) process executed by ADMF logic; 
 determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable value for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeds a corresponding setpoint value for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and 
 based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
 identifying a tag number for each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers; and 
 causing a notification to be sent to an operator to inspect the pressure indicator controllers. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a target value for gas flare comprises comparing a process variable for gas flare against a target setpoint for the gas flare. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , the operations further comprising:
 based on the process variable value of each of the plurality of pressure indicator controllers not exceeding the pressure indicator controller setpoint value:
 determining, by the ADMF logic executing ADMF process, that a process variable for each of a plurality of pressure indicator controller manipulation indicator value is equal to zero; 
 applying a tight shutoff to each pressure control valve for a predetermined period of time. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined period of time comprises five minutes. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , the operations further comprising:
 determining that a gas flare is indicated as non-routine based on a gas flare process variable exceeding a setpoint value for gas flare; and   determining a new target setpoint for the gas flare.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , the operations further comprising:
 comparing plant flare source temperature against gas flare temperature; and   identifying a source of the gas flare based on the comparison of the plant flare source temperature against the gas flare temperature.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein activating the ADMF process comprises:
 determining that an equipment shutdown status indicates that equipment has not been shutdown within a predetermined amount of time prior to the non-routine gas flare;   determining that a gas flare alarm is active; and   determining that an investigation command has been activated.