BURN PIT FLAME PROTECTION BARRIERS

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present disclosure generally applies to burn pit designs and more particularly to burn pit flame protection barriers.

BACKGROUND

[0002]Burn pits are designated areas for open-air combustion of waste materials, including byproducts of hydrocarbon producing oil and gas industries. The burn pits can be situated near refineries and petrochemical processing facilities to dispose of fluid byproducts through incineration. The combustion of excess gases and liquids can be significantly influenced by wind conditions. Wind can destabilize the flame, leading to combustion inefficiencies and incomplete combustion, which results in the release of toxic substances. For instance, wind-induced flame retraction can cause flame impingement, affecting both the stability of the flame and the structural integrity of the burn pits.

SUMMARY

[0003]Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to burn pit designs. More particularly, implementations of the present disclosure are directed to burn pits used in industrial flaring operations and wind barrier assemblies for burn pits.

[0004]The present disclosure provides an assembly that includes a burner wall configured to support a burner shaft directing a flare to exit the burner shaft and to form a flare tip, the burner wall extending upwards from a base defining a containment area, and a protective barrier system including multiple cylindrical barriers mounted in front of the flare tip in a configuration including multiple rows and multiple columns, the multiple cylindrical barriers forming a wind barrier for the flare tip, the wind barrier redirecting wind that blows towards the flare tip to prevent the flare tip from being extinguished.

[0005]In some implementations, at least a portion of the burner shaft proximal to the flare tip is oriented substantially perpendicular to the burner wall. The wind barrier configuration of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include a denser distribution around a center of the wind barrier configuration, wherein a spacing between a first portion of the cylindrical barriers at the center is less than the spacing between a second portion of the cylindrical barriers at a periphery. The wind barrier configuration of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include at least three rows of cylindrical barriers. The wind barrier configuration of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include at least two cylindrical barriers in each row. The multiple cylindrical barriers are horizontally supported by a surrounding wall extending from the burner wall. The multiple cylindrical barriers are vertically mounted on the base proximal to the burner wall. The multiple cylindrical barriers are made or are covered by a heat resistant material. Each of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include an anchor. Each of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include a longitudinal metal rod along a central longitudinal axis of a respective cylindrical barrier.

[0006]The present disclosure further provides a method that includes: providing a flare tip of a burn pit at a location relative to a burner wall, forming a wind barrier configuration for the flare tip by arranging multiple cylindrical barriers, wherein arranging the multiple cylindrical barriers can include: positioning a first row of cylindrical barriers at a first distance in front of the flare tip of the burn pit, and positioning a second row of cylindrical barrier at a second distance from the flare tip and spaced apart from the first row of cylindrical barrier, the wind barrier redirecting wind that blows towards the flare tip to prevent the flare tip from being extinguished.

[0007]In some implementations, at least a portion of the burner shaft proximal to the flare tip is oriented substantially perpendicular to the burner wall. The wind barrier configuration of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include a denser distribution around a center of the wind barrier configuration, wherein a spacing between a first portion of the cylindrical barriers at the center is less than the spacing between a second portion of the cylindrical barriers at a periphery. The wind barrier configuration of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include at least three rows of cylindrical barriers. The wind barrier configuration of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include at least two cylindrical barriers in each row. The multiple cylindrical barriers are horizontally supported by a surrounding wall extending from the burner wall. The multiple cylindrical barriers are vertically mounted on a base proximal to the burner wall. The multiple cylindrical barriers are made or are covered by a heat resistant material. Each of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include an anchor and wherein each of the multiple cylindrical barriers can include a longitudinal metal rod along a central longitudinal axis of a respective cylindrical barrier.

[0008]The present disclosure further provides a system for implementing the methods provided herein. The system includes one or more processors, and a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations in accordance with implementations of the methods provided herein.

[0009]The present disclosure further provides an arrangement of multiple cylindrical barriers in front of a flare tip of a burn pit, the arrangement including: the multiple cylindrical barriers forming a configuration including multiple rows and multiple columns, wherein the arrangement is configured to redirect wind away from the flare tip of the burn pit.

[0010]It is appreciated that methods in accordance with the present disclosure can include any combination of the aspects and features described herein. That is, methods in accordance with the present disclosure are not limited to the combinations of aspects and features described herein, but also include any combination of the aspects and features provided.

[0011]Implementations described in the present disclosure, provide numerous advantages, enhancing safety, and efficiency of the combustion process, as well as longevity of the burn pits. For example, wind barriers as described in the current implementations, help maintain a stable combustion environment, ensuring more complete combustion of waste materials. The complete combustion of waste materials reduces the release of toxic substances and improves overall safety. As another advantage, the described implementations minimize the impact of wind, the flame remains stable, reducing the risk of uncontrolled fires or explosions. The described wind barriers prevent wind-induced flame retraction, ensuring the flame remains steady and consistent, maintaining efficient combustion and reducing emissions. Stabilized flare tips lead to better performance of the burn pit, as the combustion process is less likely to be disrupted by environmental factors. As an additional advantage, the described wind barriers protect the flare tip from direct exposure to strong winds, which can cause physical damage over time, extending the lifespan of the flare tip. Protecting the flare tip from wind-related damage minimizes the risk of accidents and ensures the burn pit operates safely. As a further advantage, the described wind barriers help shield the walls of the burn pit from the erosive effects of strong winds and high temperatures, maintaining the structural integrity of the burn pit. By preventing wind-induced damage, repairs and maintenance is minimized, leading to improved operational efficiency. Another advantage of the described technology, the wind barriers mitigate the impact of varying wind conditions, ensuring the burn pit operates consistently regardless of environmental changes. By promoting more complete combustion, wind barriers help reduce the release of pollutants into the environment, contributing to better air quality and environmental protection.

[0012]The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter of the specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter can become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1A is a front isometric view of an example burn pit structure with an example wind barrier, according to some implementations of the present disclosure.

[0014]FIG. 1B is a front isometric view of an example burn pit structure with another example wind barrier, according to some implementations of the present disclosure.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a diagram of a top view of an example burn pit structure with an example wind barrier, according to some implementations of the present disclosure.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a side view of an example burn pit structure with an example wind barrier, according to some implementations of the present disclosure.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a method for forming a wind barrier for a flare tip of a burn pit, according to some implementations of the present disclosure.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system used to provide computational functionalities associated with described algorithms, methods, functions, processes, flows, and procedures as described in the present disclosure, according to some implementations of the present disclosure.

[0019]Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020]The following detailed description describes burn pit designs. More particularly, implementations of the present disclosure are directed to burn pits used in industrial flaring operations and wind barrier assemblies for burn pits. The described implementations provide wind barrier assemblies configured to maintain the efficacy and safety of burn pits, especially in windy conditions are described. The burn pit design includes a burner wall that supports a burner, ensuring that the flare exiting a burner shaft forms a stable flare tip. In front of the flare tip, a protective barrier system is formed. The protective barrier includes multiple cylindrical barriers arranged in rows and columns. The protective barrier serves as a wind barrier for the flare tip, effectively redirecting wind away from the flare tip. The controlled wind redistribution functions to prevent the flare tip from being extinguished by gusts of wind. If the flare tip were extinguished, then the burn pit's function and safety can be compromised. The strategic placement and configuration of the barriers are key to their performance, facilitating a consistent and controlled burn in the presence of wind.

[0021]The present disclosure describes an enhancement for burn pits used in industrial flaring operations. Within a context example, the burn pits can be situated adjacent to industrial facilities (e.g., refineries and petrochemical processing facilities) to dispose through incineration fluid byproducts produced by the respective industrial facility. The byproducts produced by refineries and petrochemical processing facilities can include gases like methane, ethane, propane, and butanes, which are often flared to reduce hazards. In some implementations, refineries generate a significant amount of sulfur as a byproduct, which can be recovered and processed into sulfuric acid or elemental sulfur. Other byproducts that can be combusted include light ends from crude distillation, catalytic cracking byproducts, and residues from thermal processing units. The byproducts can be evacuated through a burner shaft for combustion. The combustion of the byproducts in the burn pit is a controlled process. The burn pit implementations described with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3 are designed to minimize the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere by mitigating the impact of wind on the flare tip. FIGS. 1-3 depict examples of a hydrocarbon burn pit including example wind barriers to show the context in which the example wind barriers protect burn pit flare tips from wind conditions.

[0022]FIGS. 1A and 1B are front isometric views of an example burn pit structure 100 with an example wind barrier 102A, 102B according to some implementations of the present disclosure. The example burn pit structure 100 includes a containment area 104 that is defined by at least three walls 106A, 106B, 106C, and at least partially by a fourth wall 106D. The base 108 of the containment area 104 can include a relatively flat (leveled) surface or an unleveled surface having opposing ground portions sloping to a center depression that spans across the containment area 104. In some implementation, the base 108 of the containment area 104 can be configured as a rectangle (as shown in FIG. 2). For example, the base 108 of the containment area 104 can include a rectangular area having a length of about 80-100, 85-100, or 90-100 meters, and a width of about 60-80, 65-80, or 70-80 meters. The walls 106A, 106B, 106C, 106D can have a height of about 6-12, 8-12 or 9-12 meters. One of the walls is a burner wall 106A extending upwards from the base 108 of the containment area 104.

[0023]The burner wall 106A supports a burner shaft 110. The burner shaft 110 directs a flare combusting byproduct fluid to exit the burner shaft 110 and to form a flare tip 112. The burner shaft 110 is exposed at a first end with a burn pit tip, extending to a second end that in operation is in fluid communication with a source of hydrocarbon liquids (not shown). The burner shaft 110 can be surrounded by a housing 113 forming a protective layer extending from the base 108 of the containment area 104 throughout the burner wall 106A. The opening of the burner shaft 110 projects the flare tip horizontally towards the containment area 104 to discharge flares and hydrocarbons into the containment area 104. The walls 106A, 106B, 106C, 106D can be formed to withstand high temperature (e.g., temperature of 1,000° C.) and can resist cracking and damage from rapid temperature changes. For example, the walls 106A, 106B, 106C, 106D can be formed with refractory brick laid in a manner so that their faces are on the same plane.

[0024]The example wind barrier 102A, 102B includes multiple cylindrical barriers 114A-114G mounted in front of the flare tip 112. The cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can be formed of fire resistant and rust resistant materials, such as refractory monolithics, concrete, steel, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum alloys, titanium or a combination thereof. The example wind barrier 102A, 102B can be arranged in a configuration including multiple rows and multiple columns, each row and each column including two or more cylindrical barriers (e.g., three cylindrical barriers). For example, the cylindrical barriers 114A-114C can for a first row at a first distance from the burner wall 106A. The cylindrical barriers 114D-114E can for a second row at a second distance from the burner wall 106A. The cylindrical barriers 114F-114G can for a third row at a third distance from the burner wall 106A. The first distance can be smaller than the second distance that can be smaller than the third distance, such that the first row is the nearest to the burner wall 106A. In some implementations, the rows of cylindrical barriers are parallel to the burner wall 106A. In some implementations, an interdistance between the cylindrical barriers within each of the rows of cylindrical barriers are different between rows. For example, the interdistance between the cylindrical barriers within the first row can be smaller than the interdistance between the cylindrical barriers within the second row that can be smaller than the interdistance between the cylindrical barriers within the third row. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114B are closer to each other than the cylindrical barriers 114D, 114E to redirect wind currents away from the flare tip 112 to prevent the flare tip 112 from being extinguished.

[0025]As shown in FIG. 1A, the cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can be vertically mounted in the base 108 of the containment area 104, in front of the flare tip 112. For example, the cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can be positioned in a set configuration in front of the flare tip 112 and can be anchored within the base 108 of the containment area 104 (as shown in FIG. 3) to withstand winds of up to hundreds of kilometers per hour. The vertically mounted cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can have a height that exceeds the level of the flare tip 112, but is smaller than or equal to the height of the burner wall 106A, such that the example wind barrier 102A is efficient at laterally redirecting wind currents that are angled at up to about 70 degrees. In some implementations, the cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can have a substantially equal height.

[0026]As shown in FIG. 1B, the cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can be horizontally mounted in front of the flare tip 112. For example, the cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can be positioned in a set configuration in front of the flare tip 112 and can be anchored within a side wall (surrounding wall) 106B that is substantially angled (e.g., right or obtuse angled) to the burner wall 106A. The cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can be anchored within a side wall 106B to withstand winds of up to hundreds of kilometers per hour. The horizontally mounted cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can have a length that exceeds the position of the flare tip 112, but is smaller than or equal to the width of the burner wall 106A or the width of the base 108 of the containment area 104, such that the example wind barrier 102A is efficient at redirecting wind currents upwards, away from the flare tip 112. In some implementations, the cylindrical barriers 114A-114G can have a substantially equal length.

[0027]FIG. 2 is a diagram of a top view of an example burn pit structure 200 with an example wind barrier 102, according to some implementations of the present disclosure. Similar to the example burn pit structure 100 shown and described with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the burn pit structure 200 includes the example wind barrier 102 positioned in front of the flare tip 112. The burn pit structure 200 includes the example wind barrier 102 that facilitates a stable flare tip making the burner wall 106A thermally and structurally safe. The flare tip 112 generates a constant source of heat that is concentrated in the region of the burner shaft housing 113. The burner shaft housing 113 is configured to withstand the high temperature (e.g., exceeding 1800° C.) generated by the flare tip 112 for prolonged periods of time.

[0028]The incoming wind 116A is reflected as outgoing wind 116B by the cylindrical barriers 114A-114G defining the wind barrier, such that thermal gradients that can degrade the masonry structure of the burner wall 106A are minimized. In response to the incoming wind 116A being reflected by the cylindrical barriers 114A-114G, the heat generated by the flare tip 112 is substantially uniformly and gradually distributed around the flare tip 112 within the containment area 104. In some implementations, the burner shaft housing 113 has a trapezoidal-like shape providing a higher stability to the inner portions of the burner wall 106A that dissipate heat slower than the portions closer to the containment area 104. The burner wall 106 can be a generally vertical or inclined wall section below and partially above the flare tip 112, for example vertical or having a slight gradient inclined away from the face.

[0029]FIG. 3 is a side view of an example burn pit structure 300 with an example wind barrier 102, according to some implementations of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, in some implementations, the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H, each corresponding to a different row, can have different heights. The height of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H can decrease with the distance from the flare tip 112, such that the cylindrical barriers 114A closest to the flare tip 112 can have the greatest height and the cylindrical barrier 114H furthest from the flare tip 112 can have the smallest height. The height variation of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H can direct wind currents 116A up and away from the flare tip 112. In some implementations, the distance between the rows of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H varies to optimize efficiency of wind redirection.

[0030]The cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H can be designed to include structural support to withstand maximum wind velocities measured within a geographic region. The structural support of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H can include anchors 120 and reinforcements 122. The anchors 120 and the reinforcements 122 are used to increase the stability of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H. The reinforcements 122 can include longitudinal metal rods included along a central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H. The cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H can be anchored using anchors 120 as enhanced supports of bases 118 of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H that are buried within the base 108 of the containment area 104. In some implementations, the bases 118 of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H are approximately a third or more of the length of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H. The bases 118 of the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H are buried within the base 108 of the containment area 104. The base 108 of the containment area 104 can be reinforced to provide adequate support for the cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H to ensure stability and safety by preventing tilting when subjected to high wind speeds. Even though the cylindrical barriers 114A-114H are illustrated and described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 as being cylindrically shaped, in some implementations the barriers 114A-114H can be conically or truncated conically shaped or as angle adjustable blades.

[0031]In some implementations, one or more components of the example burn pit structure 300, such as one or more walls 106A, 106B, 106C, 106D, one or more cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H, and/or the burner shaft include one or more sensors 124A, 124B, 124C. The sensors 124A, 124B, 124C include thermometers and wind sensors. The wind sensors can be coupled to one or more cylindrical barriers 114A, 114D, 114F, 114H to measure wind speed and direction. The sensors 124A, 124B, 124C can generate real-time data including temperature, wind speed and direction, which can be used for predictive maintenance and safety analysis, as described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0032]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a method 400 for forming a wind barrier for a flare tip of a burn pit, according to some implementations of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the example process 400 can be performed by any components of the example system 500 in communication with the sensors 124A-C.

[0033]At 402, a flare tip (e.g., the flare tip 112 described with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3) of a burn pit structure (e.g., the example burn pit structure 100, 200, 300 described with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3) is provided. The flare tip characteristics can be determined and/or set. For example, a portion of the flare tip characteristics can be categorized based on a rate of the released fluid, a composition of the released fluid, and a velocity of fluid flowing through the burner shaft (e.g., the burner shaft 110 described with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3). The flare tip location (e.g., height from a based on the containment area) and horizontal orientation are defined by the geometrical features of the burner shaft.

[0034]At 404, wind barriers are formed in front of the flare tip to minimize the impact of the wind on the flare tip. The wind barriers can be formed by positioning cylindrical barriers in a sequence of rows, each row having a particular interspacing and a particular distance from the flare tip. For example, at 404A, a first row of cylindrical barriers is positioned at a first distance from the flare tip and at 404B, a second row of cylindrical barriers is positioned at a first distance from the flare tip. Positioning the cylindrical barriers can include mounting the cylindrical barriers including reinforcements in a vertical or a horizontal configuration and anchoring the bases of the cylindrical barriers to increase their stability. The wind barriers can be arranged to have a denser distribution around a center of the wind barrier configuration, such that that the spacing between a first portion of the cylindrical barriers at the center is less than the spacing between a second portion of the cylindrical barriers at the periphery. The wind barrier configuration of the cylindrical barriers includes at least three rows of cylindrical barriers with at least two cylindrical barriers in each row.

[0035]At 406, the burn pit is monitored using one or more sensors (e.g., sensors 124A-124C described with reference to FIG. 3). The sensors can be configured to perform automatic data collection and transmission of the data package to one or more processors (e.g., processor 510 described with reference to FIG. 5), according to a schedule that can be aligned with a usage schedule of the burn pit. In some implementations, the automatic data collection schedule can define a normal operational mode of low data collection frequency and an event (e.g., a meteorological event including high winds) triggered operational mode of high data collection frequency. The sensors collecting data including temperature, wind velocity, and wind direction can be set to operate in the normal operational mode and switch to the event associated operational mode in response to receiving an indicator of an upcoming or ongoing event (e.g., weather event, such as storm). The data package received from the sensors can include metadata. The metadata can provide information about the collected data. The metadata can include geospatial information, such as coordinates or identifiers of burn pit components to which the sensor is coupled to. The metadata can include temporal information, such as acquisition date and time defining when the sensor data was captured, often including an exact timestamp. The metadata can include environmental conditions, such as solar angles: position of the sun at the time of image capture, including solar azimuth and elevation. The metadata can include weather conditions, such as information about atmospheric conditions, such as meteorological events.

[0036]At 408, wind conditions and flare tip properties are determined, by one or more processors. The wind conditions can define the distribution of wind intensity across the wind barrier based on the sensor collected data. The determined flare tip properties can include variable flare tip properties, such as geometry (outside a boundary box or sphere) and temperature distribution mapping across the burn pit.

[0037]At 410, an action plan defining a burn pit safety action is determined, by the one or more processors. The action plan can be identified by machine learning models (e.g., recurrent neural networks with a multi-layer network topology) trained and fine-tuned to generate an automatic selection of an efficient remedial action (e.g., adjustment of a valve controlling the fluid rate through the burner shaft). The trained machine learning models can be configured to operate in active mode, for flare tip pattern identification, facilitating automatic action plan implementation. For example, the trained machine learning models can trigger an initiation of the action plan, and a modification of combustion operations based on most recent maps of temperature variation patterns relative to a predicted temperature variation patterns and ongoing or expected events.

[0038]At 412, the action plan is automatically executed by generating a trigger, by the one or more processors, to activate an operation of a system or a machine configured to perform a remedy operation (e.g., valve complete or partial shutting operation). The operation of the system or the machine can include activation of a valve closure.

[0039]The example process 400 facilitates optimization of mitigation of the impact of wind on the flame, ensuring it remains directed and stable even under adverse wind conditions. One of the greatest benefits of reduction of wind impact on flare tip is that it facilitates complete combustion of waste gases and liquids, thereby reducing pollutant emissions. The example process 400 enhances a monitoring of wind distribution within a burn pit, providing resource conservation opportunities by minimizing computing system requirements and optimization of monitorization of burn pits to ensure safe operations within and around industrial facilities.

[0040]FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram illustrating a computing system 500, in accordance with some example embodiments. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the computing system 500 can be used to monitor the example burn pit structure 100, 200, or 300 and/or any other components of the example burn pit structure 100, 200, or 300, such as the wind barrier 102A, 102B, 102.

[0041]As shown in FIG. 5, the computing system 500 can include a processor 510, a memory 520, a storage device 530, and input/output devices 540. The processor 510, the memory 520, the storage device 530, and the input/output devices 540 can be interconnected using a system bus 550. The processor 510 is capable of processing instructions for execution within the computing system 500. Such executed instructions can implement one or more components of, for example, the example burn pit structure 100, 200, or 300. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the processor 510 can be a single-threaded processor. Alternately, the processor 510 can be a multi-threaded processor. The processor 510 is capable of processing instructions stored in the memory 520 and/or on the storage device 530 to display graphical information for a user interface provided using the input/output device 540.

[0042]The memory 520 is a computer readable medium such as volatile or non-volatile that stores information within the computing system 500. The memory 520 can store data structures representing configuration object databases, for example. The storage device 530 is capable of providing persistent storage for the computing system 500. The storage device 530 can be a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, or a tape device, or other suitable persistent storage means. The input/output device 540 provides input/output operations for the computing system 500. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the input/output device 540 includes a keyboard and/or pointing device. In various implementations, the input/output device 540 includes a display unit for displaying graphical user interfaces.

[0043]According to some implementations of the current subject matter, the input/output device 540 can provide input/output operations for a network device. For example, the input/output device 540 can include Ethernet ports or other networking ports to communicate with one or more wired and/or wireless networks (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet).

[0044]In some implementations of the current subject matter, the computing system 500 can be used to execute various interactive computer software applications that can be used for organization, analysis and/or storage of data in various (e.g., tabular) format (e.g., Microsoft Excel®, and/or any other type of software). Alternatively, the computing system 500 can be used to execute any type of software applications. These applications can be used to perform various functionalities, e.g., planning functionalities (e.g., generating, managing, editing of spreadsheet documents, word processing documents, and/or any other objects), computing functionalities, or communications functionalities. Upon activation within the applications, the functionalities can be used to generate the user interface provided using the input/output device 540. The user interface can be generated and presented to a user by the computing system 500 (e.g., on a computer screen monitor).

[0045]One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed ASICs, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. These various aspects or features can include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which can be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. The programmable system or computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0046]These computer programs, which can also be referred to as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or code, include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the term “machine-readable medium” refers to any computer program product, apparatus and/or device, such as for example magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, and Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term “machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor. The machine-readable medium can store such machine instructions non-transitorily, such as for example as would a non-transient solid-state memory or a magnetic hard drive or any equivalent storage medium. The machine-readable medium can alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a transient manner, such as for example, as would a processor cache or other random-access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0047]To provide for interaction with a user, one or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein can be implemented on a computer having a display device, such as for example a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED) monitor for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, such as for example a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, such as for example visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. Other possible input devices include touch screens or other touch-sensitive devices such as single or multi-point resistive or capacitive track pads, voice recognition hardware and software, optical scanners, optical pointers, digital image capture devices and associated interpretation software, and the like.

[0048]The presented information can include feedback, such as changes in parameters or processing inputs, that the user can select to improve a production environment, such as in the exploration, production, and/or testing of petrochemical processes or facilities. For example, the feedback can include parameters that, when selected by the user, can cause a change to, or an improvement in, drilling parameters (including drill bit speed and direction) or overall production of a gas or oil well. The feedback, when implemented by the user, can improve the speed and accuracy of calculations, streamline processes, improve models, and solve problems related to efficiency, performance, safety, reliability, costs, downtime, and the need for human interaction.

[0049]In some implementations, the feedback can be implemented in real-time, such as to provide an immediate or near-immediate change in operations or in a model. The term real-time (or similar terms as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art) means that an action and a response are temporally proximate such that an individual perceives the action and the response occurring substantially simultaneously. For example, the time difference for a response to display (or for an initiation of a display) of data following the individual's action to access the data can be less than 1 millisecond (ms), less than 1 second(s), or less than 5 s. While the requested data need not be displayed (or initiated for display) instantaneously, it is displayed (or initiated for display) without any intentional delay, taking into account processing limitations of a described computing system and time required to, for example, gather, accurately measure, analyze, process, store, or transmit the data.

[0050]Events can include readings or measurements captured by downhole equipment such as sensors, pumps, bottom hole assemblies, or other equipment. The readings or measurements can be analyzed at the surface, such as by using applications that can include modeling applications and machine learning. The analysis can be used to generate changes to settings of downhole equipment, such as drilling equipment. In some implementations, values of parameters or other variables that are determined can be used automatically (such as through using rules) to implement changes in oil or gas well exploration, production/drilling, or testing. For example, outputs of the present disclosure can be used as inputs to other equipment and/or systems at a facility. This can be especially useful for systems or various pieces of equipment that are located several meters or several miles apart or are located in different countries or other jurisdictions.

[0051]The preceding figures and accompanying description illustrate example processes and computer implementable techniques. The environments and systems described above (or their software or other components) may contemplate using, implementing, or executing any suitable technique for performing these and other tasks. It will be understood that these processes are for illustration purposes only and that the described or similar techniques may be performed at any appropriate time, including concurrently, individually, in parallel, and/or in combination. In addition, many of the operations in these processes may take place simultaneously, concurrently, in parallel, and/or in different orders than as shown. Moreover, processes may have additional operations, fewer operations, and/or different operations, so long as the methods remain appropriate.

[0052]In other words, although the disclosure has been described in terms of certain implementations and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these implementations, and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example implementations does not define or constrain the disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

[0053]A number of implementations of the present disclosure have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

[0054]In view of the above-described implementations of subject matter this application discloses the following list of examples, wherein one feature of an example in isolation or more than one feature of said example taken in combination and, optionally, in combination with one or more features of one or more further examples are further examples also falling within the disclosure of this application.

[0055]Example 1. An assembly, comprising: a burner wall configured to support a burner shaft directing a flare to exit the burner shaft and to form a flare tip, the burner wall extending upwards from a base defining a containment area; and a protective barrier system comprising a plurality of cylindrical barriers mounted in front of the flare tip in a configuration comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the plurality of cylindrical barriers forming a wind barrier for the flare tip, the wind barrier redirecting wind that blows towards the flare tip to prevent the flare tip from being extinguished.

[0056]Example 2. The assembly of the preceding example, wherein at least a portion of the burner shaft proximal to the flare tip is oriented substantially perpendicular to the burner wall.

[0057]Example 3. The assembly of any of the preceding examples, wherein the wind barrier configuration of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises a denser distribution around a center of the wind barrier configuration, wherein a spacing between a first portion of the cylindrical barriers at the center is less than the spacing between a second portion of the cylindrical barriers at a periphery.

[0058]Example 4. The assembly of any of the preceding examples, wherein the wind barrier configuration of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises at least three rows of cylindrical barriers.

[0059]Example 5. The assembly of any of the preceding examples, wherein the wind barrier configuration of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises at least two cylindrical barriers in each row.

[0060]Example 6. The assembly of any of the preceding examples, wherein the plurality of cylindrical barriers are horizontally supported by a surrounding wall extending from the burner wall.

[0061]Example 7. The assembly of any of the preceding examples, wherein the plurality of cylindrical barriers are vertically mounted on the base proximal to the burner wall.

[0062]Example 8. The assembly of any of the preceding examples, wherein the plurality of cylindrical barriers are made or are covered by a heat resistant material.

[0063]Example 9. The assembly of any of the preceding examples, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises an anchor.

[0064]Example 10. The assembly of any of the preceding examples, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises a longitudinal metal rod along a central longitudinal axis of a respective cylindrical barrier.

[0065]Example 11. A method, comprising: providing a flare tip of a burn pit at a location relative to a burner wall; forming a wind barrier configuration for the flare tip by arranging a plurality of cylindrical barriers, wherein arranging the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises: positioning a first row of cylindrical barriers at a first distance in front of the flare tip of the burn pit; and positioning a second row of cylindrical barriers at a second distance from the flare tip and spaced apart from the first row of cylindrical barriers, the wind barrier redirecting wind that blows towards the flare tip to prevent the flare tip from being extinguished.

[0066]Example 12. The method of the preceding example, wherein at least a portion of the burner shaft proximal to the flare tip is oriented substantially perpendicular to the burner wall.

[0067]Example 13. The method of any of the preceding examples, wherein the wind barrier configuration of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises a denser distribution around a center of the wind barrier configuration, wherein a spacing between a first portion of the cylindrical barriers at the center is less than the spacing between a second portion of the cylindrical barriers at a periphery.

[0068]Example 14. The method of any of the preceding examples, wherein the wind barrier configuration of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises at least three rows of cylindrical barriers.

[0069]Example 15. The method of any of the preceding examples, wherein the wind barrier configuration of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises at least two cylindrical barriers in each row.

[0070]Example 16. The method of any of the preceding examples, wherein the plurality of cylindrical barriers are horizontally supported by a surrounding wall extending from the burner wall.

[0071]Example 17. The method of any of the preceding examples, wherein the plurality of cylindrical barriers are vertically mounted on a base proximal to the burner wall.

[0072]Example 18. The method of any of the preceding examples, wherein the plurality of cylindrical barriers are made or are covered by a heat resistant material.

[0073]Example 19. The method of any of the preceding examples, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises an anchor and wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical barriers comprises a longitudinal metal rod along a central longitudinal axis of a respective cylindrical barrier.

[0074]Example 20. An arrangement of a plurality of cylindrical barriers in front of a flare tip of a burn pit, the arrangement comprising: the plurality of cylindrical barriers forming a configuration comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the arrangement is configured to redirect wind away from the flare tip of the burn pit.