Pipeline Solutions

Overview

Each station located in a pipeline needs to be monitored regularly so that any irregularities can be taken care of before they turn into a problem. eProduction Solutions' pipeline solution provides the user with information from each compression station across the pipeline. Various alarm call-outs provide users immediate notification of problems.

The data from a pipeline generally must be transferred across great distances. There are three ways to transmit data - radio, microwave, and satellite. Since the vastness of most pipelines precludes hardwiring and radio communications, satellite communication is rapidly becoming the preferred way to transmit data.

Ultimately, the data must migrate to the user's desktop as usable information. eProduction Solutions provides the database for storing the information, the tools for analyzing the information, the interface for accurately monitoring the information and the solution for data distribution.

eProduction Solutions versus a Typical Pipeline Installation

Most pipeline operators rely on basic systems that provide the user with an indication of whether the compressor is on or off. This allows the user to know immediately of a problem. If the system includes an alarm system, the appropriate person is alerted anytime of the day or night.

Most installations do not have detailed sensors for monitoring current conditions at the compressors and throughout the pipeline. These sensors (pressure, temperature) allow the user to gain more of an understanding of what is happening with the pipeline and even predict eventual problems.

eProduction Solutions' Installation

eP provides a comprehensive system to monitor data from the entire pipeline that contributes to optimizing communication costs. The solution provides a long-term history that assists in predicting future problems and reducing trouble calls.

When a problem does occur, pager call-outs and telephone call-outs alert the operators of the pipeline immediately that there is a problem.

eP's pipeline solution supports multiple RTUs and PLCs regardless of how many different types may be installed on a pipeline. In addition, it supports multiple communication schemes, making possible any combination of radio, hardwire, and satellite communication methods for a single pipeline. This provides even more ways to reduce installation and other recurring costs.

Fault-Tolerant System

Using Windows Cluster technology creates a redundant server system to establish a fault-tolerant system. This technology is used for any system that requires instant recovery from computer failure. During a failure, the processing is immediately switched from one machine to another with all the processes transferred for an identical operation. The user of the system never sees a change to their application interface.

Advantages

• eP's pipeline solution use software that is OPC server and OPC client compliant.
• Through support for multiple protocols on one radio frequency, the solution can support many different RTUs and PLCs on a single or many pipelines.
• When connecting to the OPC server, database tag browsing is available to quickly configure all the points that the software talks to on the pipeline.
• Allows seamless data sharing with other applications and existing SCADA systems.
• Web presentation of real-time data provides easy distribution of the information to those who need it.
• Built-in AGA calculations, nomination tracking, and shrinkage analysis.

Real-time Applications

eP's software is an integral part of the pipeline solutions. The architecture of the software products allows for comprehensive monitoring and control of pipeline operations. The software provides general monitoring for virtually any controller, RTU, or PLC. All compressors on the pipeline can be easily monitored from one screen anywhere on the network. The software can communicate through radio, cellular, satellite, and hard wire.

The point-and-click interface of the monitoring software provides the ability to easily define RTUs, analogs, meters, and discretes so users can start seeing trends, alarms, and reports in minutes. Users can easily add calculated analog, meters, discretes, and alarms for instant notification of problems.

A built-in data historian provides the user with a long-term trend of the performance of the compressors. The trends can immediately be seen in graphical trends for long-term analysis.

The applications all coexist together or with existing SCADA and DCS systems. With complete OPC and ODBC support, data can automatically be retrieved from existing SCADA and DCS systems. The monitoring software works with all of eP's other products, as well as third party MMI tools such as Wonderware and Intellution. It can monitor virtually any controller, RTU, or PLC with a native protocol or through OPC standards.

Manual Entry Applications

For locations without communication capabilities, the data can be manually entered into the system. A sophisticated synchronization system assures that data is not inadvertently replaced or mishandled.

Facilities Monitoring Applications

eP's pipeline solution goes beyond simple monitoring by providing the engineering logic necessary for measuring shrinking analysis and material balancing. eP provides those features but our solutions can also be modified to perform specific functions for a particular companies or pipeline's needs.

Enterprise Information Management Systems

The information from a pipeline can be seen anywhere in the organization through the company's Intranet or the Internet. eProduction Solutions uses web software that allows anyone with permission to access the real-time information from the pipeline. So an employee of the pipeline company can monitor all the compressors on the pipeline, compare the information to historical data, and study predictive trends all from another part of the world.

Using eP to access pipeline allows the user to combine real-time information from pipeline operations with other information from multiple databases and applications. Financial, operations, and maintenance data can all be displayed simultaneously while browsing through different pipelines or areas of a pipeline.