Pipeline Advisor offers a variety of features and benefits that will enhance the operational capabilities of most pipeline systems.

Main Features

• Pipeline visualisation
• Remote data analysis
• Leak detection
• Batch tracking
  - Pipeline inventory
  - Arrival alarms
  - Production history logging
  - Pig tracking.

Other Important features

• Standard program, customised via configuration database - no custom code, means all users get the benefit of continuous code improvement
• User configurable
• Supports multiple languages. Currently configured in English, Mandarin, Spanish, and Portuguese. Available in other languages on request.
• Data recorder during leak events—can be replayed at any time for testing alarm mechanism, tuning, or other verification.

Coming Soon

• Advanced analysis features such as monitoring for diminishing pipe ID due to solids accumulation in the bottom of the pipe or due to scale buildup
• OPC Server capability—allows link to other systems such as data historians.

Structure of Pipeline Advisor

Advisor is written with Microsoft Visual Studio using the Visual Basic language. This ensures use of the latest Microsoft methods and standards, including the Microsoft .NET Framework.

Advisor starts with the real-time data acquisition capabilities of OPC, adds some intelligence in terms of pipeline knowledge, and then "publishes" the results of this knowledge/analysis to users. Users can be pipeline operators or others, including remote users such as engineers and managers.  Knowledge is published in several ways:

• within the Advisor's own user displays
• via OPC to SCADA and DCS operators (example: leak alarms)
• via OPC to "external systems," such as historian software (example: OSI Pi)
• via Microsoft SQL Server to remote users.  
• Remote publication can take many forms, but typically would be data file publication via email or ftp. Web interfaces are possible, as well as OPC links (Advisor can function as both an OPC client and server).

Installation

Pipeline Advisor is easy to install. All of the components needed to run Advisor, including SQL server, are installed for you by our installation program, with the exception of the OPC server that communicates to SCADA/DCS. Which OPC server is used depends upon the SCADA/DCS system being used. Typically, the customer will supply the OPC server (though we can do so if requested). Either the customer can supply the computer, or we can supply the computer—whichever is deemed most desirable by the customer.

Configuration

Advisor is configured for a particular pipeline via a configuration database. There is usually no custom coding involved. This differentiates us from some of our competitors who "hard code" your configuration, and thus don't allow you access to view or make changes to the configuration. The configuration database is a Microsoft Access database. Configuration is done via user-friendly data entry forms. Generally, we will configure the system for you, prior to shipment of the software. On-site testing and tuning is usually required, which we typically perform. However, clients are free to change the configuration at any time to meet their individual needs.

What We Need from You

As the pipeline owner, you will need to provide certain things to make the Advisor project successful:

• To set-up the configuration for your pipeline we will need you to provide some basic pipeline data, including the "profile" (elevation, kilometer post along the pipeline), pipe data (wall thickness, steel grade, etc.), and P&ID drawings
• You will need a working SCADA/DCS system that controls the pipeline and gathers data from the whole system. This SCADA/DCS needs to be OPC compliant, meaning that there must be an OPC server software tool that will allow Advisor to communicate to SCADA/DCS. Virtually all modern SCADA/DCS packages have this tool. Typically, the customer will supply the OPC server (though we can do so if requested)
• Your SCADA/DCS system must include a communication system that gathers data from the whole pipeline. The system should gather new data at intervals no less than every two seconds to ensure optimal operation of the leak detection system
• For remote access pipeline diagnostics, the computer running Advisor needs a path to the Internet which can be used to automatically send emails or upload files to an ftp site. 

Computer Hardware Requirements

Computing requirements are modest:

• A 1.5 GHz CPU with 512 Mb of RAM will easily run Advisor for most pipeline
• We currently support Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Windows Vista has not been tested
• Typically, a network connection is required to communicate to the SCADA/DCS system.

Remote Pipeline Diagnostics

Skilled labor is not always readily available in remote mining areas and bringing experts to the site can be costly and result in greater downtime.

With remote pipeline diagnostics, our expert engineers and diagnosticians can view operating and historical data from their desktop. We use this information to assess and evaluate complex situations and provide immediate solutions to keep your pipeline running smoothly.

Field Support

When desired, we can deploy an expert to your site to perform detailed pipeline analysis, evaluation and troubleshooting.

Software Support

Receive free, unlimited email and telephone support and automatic software upgrades for one year from the date of purchase of any new Pipeline Advisor solution.

Does Pipeline Advisor work for fluids other than slurry?
Yes. Pipeline Advisor is proven to work well with water (since water transport is often part of slurry transport we have had many chances to test on water). There is no known reason that Advisor would not work with any “Newtonian” fluid. (Slurry is non-Newtonian, but the software algorithms used do not preclude Newtonian fluids).

What size of leaks can Pipeline Advisor detect, and how quickly?
Leaks of about five percent of the pipeline nominal design flow are usually achievable. Typically, these can be detected within one minute. The following factors affect these results:

• Speed at which data is acquired from the SCADA system. Slower data speed makes leak detection more difficult. If the data is coming too slowly, leak detection may not be possible. Nominally we need new data values from pressures at intervals no less than every two seconds
• Hydraulic noise in the pipeline. Hydraulic noise comes from pumps (particularly positive displacement pumps), valves changing position, steep slopes, and other sources. Our system includes filters for all of these sources, however, the fewer the noise sources, the quieter the pipeline is hydraulically, and the better the leak detection can perform
• Distance between measurement stations. The longer the distance between measurement points, the longer it takes pressure waves to be seen, and the slower the detection time.

How accurately can you predict the leak location?
Plus or minus one kilometer is achievable.  With regard to overall leak detection, all of the factors listed above can impact location accuracy.

How accurate is the batch tracking?
This depends primarily on the accuracy of the flow measurement device. We have seen our predicted batch arrival times be consistently within 15 minutes of the actual arrival time on a pipeline whose overall transit time for the whole pipeline is 48 hours - this equates to an accuracy rate of 0.5%.

What languages do you support?
We support any language that Microsoft supports in Windows. English, Spanish, Portuguese and Mandarin are available immediately. We can also arrange for translation into other languages.

Are the manuals also available in multiple languages?
At this time the manual is available only in English.

Pipeline Advisor: Version 4.0

• Supports redundant Advisor computers
• Interface arrival alarms can be configured for each station
• Pipelines with multiple pump stations, and therefore hydraulically independent sections, are supported
• Advisor clients are full-featured Advisors instead of simple pictures
• Product interfaces may be edited online without shutting Advisor down
• Multiple products (different kinds of slurry) are supported
• It is possible to zoom in on the HGL visualisation graph
• Full language switching capability
• USB-based device required for software protection (four hour grace period)
• No need to select density file at start-up; start-up screen tells you if problems occurred during start-up
• Windows Authentication for local SQL login
• Pig tracker function
• Detection of network failures; this will minimise confusion about whether communications problems are OPC-related or computer/network related.
• Configured data logging to support analysis of pipeline degradation due to slowly diminishing pipe ID, whether due to scale or large-particle bed development in the bottom of the pipe. A tool for analysing this data will be included in the next version
• An interface near a station will disable the PROC method
• Option to confirm PROC leak with an associated flow change
• Non-steady state conditions mask PROC leak alarms AFTER the alarm is detected; this allows for better logging of potential leak events
• HGL parameters are adjustable online; allowed deletion of the "reload HGL" button
• Arrival alarm setpoints are adjustable online
• Includes consistent wording to facilitate multiple language support .

Pipeline Advisor was developed in 1997 to meet the needs of clients who were seeking a customisable leak detection system that could enhance operations and reduce down time.

The primary benefits derived from the Pipeline Advisor fall into four categories:

• Visualisation
• Leak detection
• Batch tracking
• Remote pipeline diagnostics.

Download the Ausenco PSI brochure (PDF 4.1MB).

To download the fact sheet click here.