WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for operating a pipeline system, the method comprising: obtaining sensor data of a gas in the pipeline system from sensors of a sensing unit; performing a real-time and closed loop control scheme using the sensor data and a material model of the gas to determine one or more control decisions, the material model configured to predict a phase of the gas as a function of the sensor data; and operating one or more controllable pipeline elements to adjust a temperature, a pressure, a flow rate, or a composition of the gas according to the one or more control decisions.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the sensor data comprises any of: the temperature of the gas; the pressure of the gas; the flow rate of the gas; and the composition of the gas; wherein the sensors of the sensing unit comprise any of a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the gas, a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the gas, a flow meter configured to measure the flow rate of the gas, and any of a gas chromatograph, laser interferometer, a water sensor, a density sensor, or a hydrogen sulfide sensor configured to measure the composition of the gas.

3. The method of Claim 1, wherein the sensor data is obtained from a plurality of sensing units positioned about the pipeline system.

4. The method of Claim 1, wherein the material model is also configured to predict at least one of a cricondentherm point of the gas, a cricondenbar point of the gas, a critical point of the gas, viscosity, density, or flow characteristics of the gas.

AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

5. The method of Claim 1, wherein the one or more control decisions are determined to meet one or more control objectives, wherein the one or more control objectives comprise at least one of: limiting a formation of hydrates in the gas; maintaining the gas in a desired phase; minimizing drag on gas flow; transitioning the gas into the desired phase; or reducing a likelihood of a fracture of a pipeline of the pipeline system.

6. The method of Claim 1, further comprising: generating display data for a user, the display data comprising any of a diagram comprising a hydrate curve, an envelope curve, and a process path, a phase diagram of the gas, the sensor data, or one or more thermodynamic properties estimated by the one or more of the material model; and operating a display device to provide the display data to the user.

7. The method of Claim 6, wherein the one or more thermodynamic properties estimated by the one or more material models comprise any of a cricondentherm point of the gas, a cricondenbar point of the gas, or a critical point of the gas.

8. The method of Claim 1, wherein the one or more material models are selected, generated, or adjusted, based on the composition of the gas.

9. A controller for a pipeline system, the controller comprising processing circuitry configured to: obtain sensor data of a gas in the pipeline system from sensors of a sensing unit; perform a real-time and closed loop control scheme using the sensor data and a material model of the gas to determine one or more control decisions, the material model configured to predict a phase of the gas as a function of the sensor data; and operate one or more controllable pipeline elements to adjust a temperature, a pressure, a flow rate, or a composition of the gas according to the one or more control decisions.

AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

10. The controller of Claim 9, wherein the sensor data comprises any of: the temperature of the gas; the pressure of the gas; the flow rate of the gas; and the composition of the gas; wherein the sensors of the sensing unit comprise any of a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the gas, a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the gas, a flow meter configured to measure the flow rate of the gas, and any of a gas chromatograph, laser interferometer, a water sensor, a density sensor, or a hydrogen sulfide sensor configured to measure the composition of the gas.

11. The controller of Claim 9, wherein the sensor data is obtained from a plurality of sensing units positioned about the pipeline system.

12. The controller of Claim 9, wherein the material model is also configured to predict at least one of a cricondentherm point of the gas, a cricondenbar point of the gas, a critical point of the gas, viscosity, density, or flow characteristics of the gas.

13. The controller of Claim 9, wherein the one or more control decisions are determined to meet one or more control objectives, wherein the one or more control objectives comprise at least one of: limiting a formation of hydrates in the gas; maintaining the gas in a desired phase; minimizing drag on gas flow; transitioning the gas into the desired phase; or reducing a likelihood of a fracture of a pipeline of the pipeline system.

14. The controller of Claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: generate display data for a user, the display data comprising any of a diagram comprising a hydrate curve, an envelope curve, and a process path, a phase diagram of the gas, the sensor data, or one or more thermodynamic properties estimated by the one or more material models; and operate a display device to provide the display data to the user.

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AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

15. The controller of Claim 14, wherein the one or more thermodynamic properties estimated by the one or more material models comprise any of a cricondentherm point of the gas, a cricondenbar point of the gas, or a critical point of the gas.

16. The controller of Claim 9, wherein the one or more material models are selected, generated, or adjusted, based on the composition of the gas.

17. A pipeline system comprising: a pipeline; a station comprising a sensing unit configured to provide sensor data; pipeline equipment configured to adjust a temperature, pressure, flow rate, or a composition of a gas; and a controller configured to: obtain the sensor data of the gas in the pipeline from sensors of the sensing unit; perform a real-time and closed loop control scheme using the sensor data and a material model of the gas to determine one or more control decisions for the pipeline equipment, the material model configured to predict a phase of the gas as a function of the sensor data; and operate the pipeline equipment to adjust the temperature, the pressure, the flow rate, or the composition of the gas according to the one or more control decisions.

18. The pipeline system of Claim 17, wherein the material model is also configured to predict at least one of a cricondentherm point of the gas, a cricondenbar point of the gas, a critical point of the gas, viscosity, density, or flow characteristics of the gas.

19. The pipeline system of Claim 17, wherein the one or more control decisions are determined to meet one or more control objectives, wherein the one or more control objectives comprise at least one of: limiting a formation of hydrates in the gas; maintaining the gas in a desired phase; minimizing drag on gas flow; transitioning the gas into the desired phase; or reducing a likelihood of a fracture of a pipeline of the pipeline system.

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AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

20. The pipeline system of Claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to: generate display data for a user, the display data comprising any of a diagram comprising a hydrate curve, an envelope curve, and a process path, a phase diagram of the gas, the sensor data, or one or more thermodynamic properties estimated by the one or more material models; and operate a display device to provide the display data to the user.

21. A method for optimizing a pipeline comprising: determining a mode of optimization and operation for the pipeline; obtaining an objective function quantifying a performance variable as a function of one or more control decisions of the pipeline over a future time horizon; optimizing the objective function subject to one or more constraints to determine control decisions for the pipeline that result in an optimal value of the performance variable; and operating equipment of the pipeline according to the control decisions.

22. The method of Claim 21, wherein the mode of optimization comprises at least one of: an emissions or energy consumption mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is energy consumption and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the performance variable over the future time horizon; a monetary cost mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is monetary cost and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the monetary cost over the future time horizon; or a throughput mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is a delivered amount of product and optimizing the objective function comprises maximizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a maximum value of delivered amount of product over the future time horizon.

23. The method of Claim 21, wherein the method is performed for an entirety of the pipeline to determine control decisions for the entirety of the pipeline.

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AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

24. The method of Claim 21, wherein the method is performed for a station of the pipeline to determine control decisions for the station of the pipeline.

25. The method of Claim 21, wherein the objective function comprises a model of a station of the pipeline, wherein the station of the pipeline comprises a plurality of pumps arranged in series or parallel configured to pump a product through the pipeline, wherein the model of the station predicts one or more operational parameters of the station as a function of the control decisions.

26. The method of Claim 21, wherein the control decisions are for each timestep of the future time horizon, wherein the control decisions comprise at least one of a setpoint for one or more pumps of the pipeline, an amount of drag reducing agent (DRA) to add to the pipeline, or an amount of energy to purchase from a utility provider to operate the pipeline.

27. The method of Claim 21, wherein the pipeline is configured to ship any of a liquid product, a gas product, or a product including a mixture of liquid and gas.

28. The method of Claim 21, wherein the control decisions comprise an amount and type of additive to add to a product of the pipeline.

29. A pipeline comprising: a plurality of pipeline stations, each pipeline station comprising at least one pump or compressor; a pipe connecting the plurality of pipeline stations; and a controller configured to: determine a mode of optimization and operation for the pipeline; obtain an objective function quantifying a performance variable as a function of one or more control decisions of the pipeline over a future time horizon; optimize the objective function subject to one or more constraints to determine control decisions for the pipeline that result in an optimal value of the performance variable; and operate the at least pump or compressor of each of the plurality of pipeline stations of the pipeline according to the control decisions.

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AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

30. The pipeline of Claim 29, wherein the mode of optimization comprises at least one of: an emissions or energy consumption mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is energy consumption and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the performance variable over the future time horizon; a monetary cost mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is monetary cost and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the monetary cost over the future time horizon; or a throughput mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is a delivered amount of product and optimizing the objective function comprises maximizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a maximum value of delivered amount of product over the future time horizon.

31. The pipeline of Claim 29, wherein the controller is configured to optimize the objective function for an entirety of the pipeline to determine control decisions for the entirety of the pipeline.

32. The pipeline of Claim 29, wherein the controller is configured to optimize the objective function for one of the plurality of pipeline stations of the pipeline to determine control decisions for the one of the plurality of pipeline stations of the pipeline.

33. The pipeline of Claim 29, wherein the objective function comprises a model of at least one of the plurality of pipeline stations of the pipeline, wherein the at least one pipeline station of the pipeline comprises a plurality of the pumps arranged in series or parallel configured to pump a product through the pipeline, wherein the model of the pipeline station predicts one or more operational parameters of the station as a function of the control decisions.

34. The pipeline of Claim 29, wherein the control decisions are for each timestep of the future time horizon, wherein the control decisions comprise at least one of a setpoint for one or more pumps of the pipeline, an amount of drag reducing agent (DRA) to add to the pipeline, or an amount of energy to purchase from a utility provider to operate the pipeline.

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AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

35. The pipeline of Claim 29, wherein the pipeline is configured to ship any of a liquid product, a gas product, or a product including a mixture of liquid and gas.

36. The pipeline of Claim 29, wherein the control decisions comprise an amount and type of additive to add to a product of the pipeline.

37. A controller for optimizing a pipeline, the controller configured to: determine a mode of optimization and operation for the pipeline; obtain an objective function quantifying a performance variable as a function of one or more control decisions of the pipeline over a future time horizon; optimize the objective function subject to one or more constraints to determine control decisions for the pipeline that result in an optimal value of the performance variable; and operate equipment of the pipeline according to the control decisions.

38. The controller of Claim 37, wherein the mode of optimization comprises at least one of: an emissions or energy consumption mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is energy consumption and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the performance variable over the future time horizon; a monetary cost mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is monetary cost and optimizing the objective function comprises minimizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a minimum value of the monetary cost over the future time horizon; or a throughput mode, wherein the performance variable of the objective function is a delivered amount of product and optimizing the objective function comprises maximizing the objective function to determine control decisions that result in a maximum value of delivered amount of product over the future time horizon.

39. The controller of Claim 37, wherein the objective function comprises a model of a station of the pipeline, wherein the station of the pipeline comprises a plurality of pumps arranged in series or parallel configured to pump a product through the pipeline, wherein the model of the station predicts one or more operational parameters of the station as a function of the control decisions.

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AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

40. The controller of Claim 37, wherein the control decisions are for each timestep of the future time horizon, wherein the control decisions comprise at least one of a setpoint for one or more pumps of the pipeline, an amount of drag reducing agent (DRA) to add to the pipeline, or an amount of energy to purchase from a utility provider to operate the pipeline.

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AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)