Gathering geo-data

As the world’s demand for energy continues to grow, pipelines remain to be one of the most efficient and safest means to transport oil and gas over a long distance. The long linear nature of export pipelines traverses through a multitude of topographic/geological conditions and often transitions from onshore to subsea. Due to the importance of pipelines in our daily lives, a comprehensive study needs to be performed to assess the feasibility, design and monitoring of the pipeline for the entire lifespan of the asset. Investing in geo-data to acquire, analyse and advise on understanding the environment of a pipeline is paramount, and a methodology that has shown repeatedly high return on invested resources is mapping and surveillance.

Poor management of pipelines can result in catastrophic environmental and financial consequences. The cost of oil spill clean-up in the sea can vary widely depending on the size of the spill, the location, and the extent of the damage caused. According to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average cost of an oil spill clean-up at sea in the US ranges from US$10 000 to US$40 000/bbl of spilled oil, and this does not take into consideration the significant damage to the environment.

The cost of oil spill clean-up on land can also vary. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average cost of an oil spill clean-up on land is about US$50/gal. of spilled oil. Similar to clean-up operations at sea, the cost of an oil spill clean-up on land can also include the economic, environmental, and social costs associated with the spill. These costs can include lost revenue for businesses and farmers, damage to wildlife and their habitats, and long-term impacts on the health of ecosystems and local communities …

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Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/equipment-and-safety/30062023/gathering-geo-data/