United States Department of Transportation
i
Remote control spill reduction technology : a survey and analysis of applications for liquid pipeline systems
-
1995-01-01
[PDF-214.21 KB]
Details:
-
Creators:
-
Corporate Contributors:
-
Subject/TRT Terms:
-
Resource Type:
-
Geographical Coverage:
-
Corporate Publisher:
-
Abstract:Given the 1988 directive, the OPS conducted a study on the potential for EFRDs
to minimize the volume of pipeline spills. They concluded that Remote Controlled Valves
(RCVs) and check valves are the only EFRDs that are effective on hazardous liquids
pipelines. They also found that RCVs could not function successfully without a Supervisory
Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system or an independent, softwarebased
Leak Detection System (LDS) ( USDOT 1991).
SCADA and LDS can improve the dispatchers ability to detect and locate leaks
on pipeline systems, and thus improve their potential to reduce the damages from
pipeline accidents. However, many industry experts question the maturity and reliability
of this technology. Thus, the imposition of Federal regulations requiring a SCADA or
software-based leak detection system was controversial.
This study has three objectives:
· To investigate current SCADA, LDS, and EFRD systems, and to identify their performance
measures.
· To investigate the effect of SCADA, LDS, and EFRD performance measures on
their potential for reducing the hazard to the public and environment posed by
pipeline spills.
· To investigate the feasibility and cost to liquid pipeline operators of SCADA, LDS,
EFRDs, and to report on the progress of liquid pipeline operators in adopting and
implementing these systems.
To carry out this study, information about SCADA, LDS, and EFRD systems
was obtained. Six LDS vendors were contacted for feature, price, and performance
information about their systems, and published information on pipeline company experience
with vendor and in-house developed systems was collected. Representatives
of pipeline companies, including hazardous liquid and natural gas, were interviewed.
Seven pipeline companies were visited, allowing on-site examinations of pipeline
operations, and discussions with company executives and dispatchers about their
field experience with spill reduction technologies. In total, the pipeline companies interviewed
for this study operate over 27,000 miles of pipeline, of which approximately
25,400 miles is hazardous liquid pipeline and 1,600 miles is gas pipeline. This represents
16% of the total hazardous liquid pipeline mileage regulated by OPS and 0.6%
of gas pipeline miles.
-
Format:
-
Collection(s):
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
