Better modeling technique assists capacity vending

In today's increasingly competitive capacity-vending market, pipe line operators are using on-line, real-time modeling tools for decision support. State estimation procedures offer the best real-time modeling solution. State estimation techniques produce more accurate and reliable results than more common, less complex approaches by assuming all supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) data are in error, by using all available hydraulic data, and by assuming SCADA data are measuring interrelated properties of a single body of fluid that must obey fundamental fluid-dynamics laws. Before considering the complexities of the modeling process, it is pertinent to review what the real-time model actually is trying to achieve. This paper describes these goals and performance results.