Monitoring pipelines

The U.S. pipeline industry has seen remarkable changes in information technology over the past few decades. As late as the 1980s, operators relied on personal knowledge of their systems, aided only by blueprint drawings of the routes.

By the 1990s, companies began using more automated systems, and the digital age began. The question then was simply how to deal with the mix of data in digital and paper files – in essence, how to save money through having more and more data available digitally.

This is however much more than a straightforward economic issue.  Oil and gas pipelines often run through populated areas, meaning that people’s lives are at stake in the case of an accident.  The integrated data holds the key to understanding what is happening within the pipeline system at a given time. Having all available data visible helps managers make better and safer decisions. However, the integration of existing data systems must be a slow, thoughtful process as it requires changes in how pipeline companies operate.

Regulatory changes have driven much of the work around the implementation of the ‘digital pipeline’. Much activity has already taken place in the US, and Europe is beginning the process.  For pipeline companies to approach the Digital Pipeline ideal, managers of those assets have to accept certain facts of life: The digital era is here, systems integration is mandatory, budgets will shrink, corporate knowledge is mobile, and regulatory compliance will only become more demanding.

The system database:   Open or proprietary?

The heart of a modern pipeline system is its database, which includes all the critical information about centerlines, crossings, facilities, inspections, maintenance history and regulatory compliance. Most digital data acquisition systems record such information in file structures that are either completely open, or proprietary.

Companies often stay with proprietary systems because they fear change and the loss of control. Another justification for keeping a proprietary format is to protect market share and to compel users to depend on selected vendors, but this approach prevents information from being integrated smoothly. It keeps data fragmented and blocks access to a central pipeline database. 

Dirt to the desktop:  The lifecycle of information in pipeline distribution systems

 
Developing a pipeline database takes time and money, but it does not need to be completed in a single project. Companies may spend years building their databases and a lifetime updating them.

Most operators begin with “as built” construction drawings as their source data for establishing a digital centerline. The information, however, often exists only on paper, because the original digital files from the actual construction stage did not exist.

Since most pipeline drawings are not geo-referenced to a world coordinate system, and do not exist in digital format, it’s hard to piece together a digital centerline from the remaining collection of “as built” drawings.

To supplement information from the drawings, many companies conduct aerial surveys using photography and GPS data to establish the location of key assets and points of inflection. Aerial mapping has an accuracy of 10 to 15 meters.  Once the centerline has been established, other assets may be placed on the system.

Over the life of a pipeline, the amount of maintenance, flow, performance and re-route information accumulates. Regardless of how the data was gathered, it must all be incorporated into the digital database. That often requires stepping back for a holistic, “dirt to desktop” view.

Operators can see the kinds of information they need and identify gaps in their database by reviewing the maintenance and regulatory requirements. Theoretically, data collected should be assigned a Section, Table and Attribute from the pipeline data model where they are stored, using a standard data transfer format. These steps eliminate the need for specialized software to extract data from proprietary systems.

Integrating pipeline information:  experience counts

Pipeline management relies heavily on graphical information systems – GIS – coupled with visualization and mapping tools.  Integration of data in pipeline systems is aimed towards reducing risk and ensuring regulatory compliance, while lowering overall operating costs.

General data management and integration tools are not up to the task of integration in this domain. A high degree of understanding and expertise with GIS and pipeline systems is also required, along with a mastery of IT applications. Petris has provided innovative solutions and services to most major pipeline companies that help manage and provide a deeper view of their data as it relates to their operations.