Monitoring pipelines from space

Orbital Eye has created a service that can monitor oil and gas pipelines by using satellites from space. A pipeline operator from Africa has shown interest in the service.

As pipeline safety is so important, operators implement aerial surveys and/or walking along the right of way (ROW) in order to monitor and inspect the pipeline.

However, whilst the overall detection rate for inspection surveys is 17% and 37% by the public, the company’s PIMSyS service is able to improve this detection rate.

The PIMSyS tablet app uses radar images and information from Europe’s Sentinel satellites, in combination with smart software, to detect potential threats and ground movement.

Jan Ridder, Managing Director at Orbital Eye, stated: “We have been using Sentinel-1A imagery since the satellite was launched, and the results have been very positive. Currently, Sentinel-1A data are refreshed on average once every 12 days. Initially, some operators prefer a higher frequency, but once they start using the system they find that the current rate is adequate in many cases.”

Edited from various sources by Stephanie Roker

Sources: PHYS, E&T

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/equipment-and-safety/08062016/monitoring-pipelines-from-space/