Remote monitoring, pipeline

The cathodic protection of pipelines is best monitored by an intensive measurement technique according to Section 3.7, by an off potential survey eveiy 3 years and by remote monitoring of pipe/soil potentials. After installation of parallel pipelines, it can be ascertained by intensive measurements whether new damage of the pipe coating has occurred. These measurements provide evidence of possible external actions that can cause mechanical damage. 

Because of their role as the link between producing and market areas, interstate natural gas pipelines play a crucial role in balancing supply and demand. To do so, the interstate pipelines continually monitor pipeline performance. These companies rely heavily on computers to gather, analyze and retain information on the performance of their pipelines, and to control the flow of gas in remote sections of the line. 

Instrumentation and remote monitoring have made slurry pipelines safer, better protected against leakage, freezing, and surging. 

Continuous monitoring is necessary on critical machines where problems can develop rapidly and have severe financial consequences. Typical machines in this category are unspared process compressors. Remotely located machinery such as pipeline gas compressors also require continuous monitoring. Also, continuous monitoring may be dictated by safety considerations. Even though the cost of a failure is small, machines should be continuously monitored if a failure will result in hazards to personnel. Figure 8-38 depicts a typical continuous monitoring system. 

Hydrants should be located on the street or roadside of all pipelines or drainage ditches to allow access for the pumper truck. Where large pipelines or drainage ditches may hinder access, access across such obstructions should be provided. Hydrants and manually operated monitors should be located outside of tank dike areas. Monitors capable of remote operation from outside tank dike areas may be located within that area. 

The crude oil delivery system starts with relatively small-diameter gathering lines from individual producing wells to a main-line pump station, from where it is pumped through a larger transmission trunkline to a refinery or other destination. At the refinery, the cmde oil is separated into gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, distillate fuel oil, etc, and the refined products are transported by products pipelines to markets, storage, shipping terminals, etc. In modem lines, all inputs and outputs are metered, monitored, and remotely controlled by supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) computer systems. 

The purpose of the pipeline control system is to control and monitor the transportation of crude oil through two pipelines. For safety and availability reasons a redundant process controlling computer system is used. An important component of the pipeline control system is a microprocessor controlled remote action system which transmits all measured values and commands ... 

Monitoring the safety of employees who work in small isolated groups poses a particular challenge for safety improvement efforts. Such was the case for an oil and gas company with which we consulted. Its pipeline maintenance employees worked in field groups of only a few people their job was to maintain miles of pipeline in the so-called middle of nowhere. These workers were at risk not only for physical torque injuries and line-of-fire injuries from the energized systems they worked with but also for injuries from natural hazards (such as snakes) in the rough and remote territory in which they worked. 

---