OleumTech solves pipeline automation challenges

OleumTech^(R) Corporation, a leading provider of M2M communications and industrial automation solutions, has solved major automation challenges for a global oil and gas producer with its pipeline pigging systems located throughout Southeast Oklahoma (USA).

The operator faced three major challenges:

• Automating the monitoring of two process variables per site to increase their operational efficiencies (pipeline pressure and tank level).
• Overcoming great distances between the assets to the main control panel where the RTU was located (trenching, conduit and wires were not feasible due to high cost and presence of underground pipes and rough terrain).
• Ability to tie-in the pressure and tank levels without tampering with the programming of legacy Bristol 3340 RTU, thus, only by utilising the available 4 - 20 mA inputs.

OleumTech solved these challenges using the following method:

• To monitor the two assets, OleumTech deployed Wireless Transmitters that are self-contained, battery-powered, Class I, Division 1 certified, intrinsically safe. Firstly, there was an analog pressure sensor/transmitter to monitor the pipeline pressure to detect pig arrivals. Secondly, a resistive level sensor/transmitter to monitor the tank level of produced water.
• OleumTech Transmitters cover up to 7500 ft. Thus, the RF range between the assets to the RTU was not a factor.
• The raw pressure and tank level data were then converted to 4-20 mA outputs connecting them back to the Bristol 3340 RTU utilising the DH2 Wireless Gateway and Modbus RS485 I/O Expansion System with one 4 - 20 mA I/O Module.

OleumTech's remote automation system was deployed in less than one day at the producer's most challenging location. Prior to OleumTech's involvement with the project, the producer would have had to spend more than US$30 000 per site and it would have taken weeks to engineer and deploy. The producer was taken quite by surprise how simple and easy it was to deploy the M2M automation solutions by OleumTech and the ability to accommodate their legacy equipment and engineering requirements. Since the success of the pilot, the producer is moving forward automating their other locations with OleumTech Wireless Sensor and I/O Networks.

Edited from source by Stephanie Roker

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/01042016/oleumtech-solves-pipeline-automation-challenges/