Optimization of Oil-Flow Scheduling in Branched Pipeline Systems

Abstract

The article considers a new approach to oil transportation scheduling in oil pipeline network systems. This new approach is based on a mathematical model that solves the optimization transport problem as a system of objective functions and equality and inequality constraints. The system can be varied depending on the needs of a given pipeline system. The approach allows one to compute oil-flow distribution during a certain time period (e.g., day, week, or month) with a given time sampling (e.g., hour, day, or week) considering pipeline characteristics (e.g., flow capacity and technological regimes, among others), oil properties (e.g., mass sulfur fraction and density, among others), and capacity of tank terminals. In addition, the approach enables one to optimize oil transportation in terms of energy consumption. The possibilities of the proposed approach are shown using a real system of 10 oil pipelines, 9 branches, 4 transitional tank terminals, 3 oil suppliers, and 6 oil consumers. The result of the flow distribution calculation in a branched system, which is the schedule of cargo flows for each pipeline in a whole pipeline system with all constraints satisfied and optimized objective function during a 1-month (744 h) time period with a 1-h time sampling, is shown.