Exclusive: Delek Logistics Partners selects CruxOCM for gathering system control centre operations automation

The challenges faced by control room operators in managing gathering system functionality with manual commands are substantial. Leveraging the capabilities of CruxOCM’s new co-pilot technology, gatherBOTs automation delivers an increase in volumetric throughput, reduced pressure fluctuations and reduced magnitude of flow variations. By improving on these operational factors, it enables control rooms to function at peak safety, utilisation, and efficiency levels.

The intelligent automation embedded in CruxOCM's gatherBOT is specifically designed to reduce manual commands, alleviating control room operator fatigue. This empowers operators to focus on more critical higher-level functions while ensuring safety and performance standards.

Chris Clarkin, Senior Director, Engineering at Delek Logistics Partners, commented, "We're looking forward to the innovation Crux will bring to our gathering system operations. Based on the business cases we've outlined together; we expect significant operational improvements once gatherBOT is deployed."

Vicki Knott, CEO of CruxOCM, commented, "Delek Logistics Partners' choice to collaborate with CruxOCM in this co-commercialisation signifies a forward-thinking and innovative approach to gathering system operations. While traditional methods rely on PLCs and SCADA, our co-pilot technology platform redefines automation capabilities by integrating multiple controllers and machine learning. We are reshaping the future of control rooms, and providing a comprehensive solution that goes beyond the surface of what automation can achieve."

World Pipelines spoke exclusively to Vicki Knott, who shared some further thoughts on the announcement:

“We’re excited that Delek wants to co-commercialise on the gatherBOT with us. It’s a product line that we knew had a lot of potential and it's exciting that Delek sees that. Like our pipeBOT^TM technology, gatherBOT enables the adaptive cruise control experience, but for gathering systems…it's just a little bit more upstream. It solves a slightly different problem, but the functionality is the same. Our system will manage operations based on the historical tank levels, with the goal of maximising throughput at the bottom of the system.

“Imagine being a control room operator in the Permian Basin and you have a gathering system with 200 locks: you're essentially playing whack-a-mole. A gathering system can have thousands of injections, and a control room operator is looking at this system in real-time. They're turning on and off the injections based on the volumes in the tanks at each point, and there are a lot of variables. Utilising software can create consistency and contribute to the increased utilisation of the asset.

“We know that gathering systems feed the transmission lines and so if we're able to help debottleneck transmission lines, the next logical step is to make sure we're debottlenecking the gathering systems as well. We anticipate the volumetric throughput uplift on the apportioned gathering systems to be in the same magnitude that we're seeing with pipeBOT and maxOPT.

“From a ratability perspective, it means being able to flow and deliver contractually what you're supposed to at your delivery point. If you can always deliver consistently, it means that you're going to not only meet your contracts, but also increase the ratability – or the consistency – at which you're delivering product, and your buffer can be reduced.

“We're very excited to have Delek join us as a commercialisation partner. The fact that they're willing to partner with an early-stage company to commercialise something is really special. They have a track record of doing things safely, and engaging with early-stage companies. And I think that that's just such a positive thing for the industry as a whole.”

CruxOCM spearheads the advancement of co-pilot capabilities for control room operators, transforming the operation of pipeline networks with our existing cutting-edge pipeBOT, maxOPT, leanOPT solutions as well as its new automation solution, gatherBOT. The platform empowers energy organisations to improve their financial, sustainability, and QHSE postures through the integration of cross domain, real-time, AI-driven software, at the core of their businesses.

Image: Vicki Knott, CEO of CruxOCM.

 

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Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/contracts-and-tenders/10092024/exclusive-delek-logistics-partners-selects-cruxocm-for-gathering-system-control-centre-operations-automation/