EMSR Emphasizes Importance of Vital Link to Consumers

Saudi Aramco's pipeline network is among the largest in the world, and the company's president and CEO recently reminded Pipelines employees that they are leading the way for the oil and gas industries.

During the July 3 Executive Management Safety Review, Saudi Aramco president and CEO Abdallah S. Jum'ah, along with senior management, was given an overview of issues critical to the maintenance of healthy pipeline operations. The morning's several presentations focused on challenges unique to pipelines and how Pipelines Department employees overcome them through the implementation of strategic initiatives and state-of-the-art technology.

The Executive Management Safety Review site visits included the Dhahran Pump Station, the Pipelines Monitoring Center and a specially prepared exhibit at the Technical Exchange Center.

The newly established Pipelines Monitoring Center (PMC) houses many of the applications that enable the pipeline network, equipment and operations to be remotely monitored. Data about the operational status of the various types of field equipment, including cathodic protection systems and remote terminal units (RTU), comes in to the PMC from all along the 18,000-kilometer pipeline network. This information is used by PMC operators to quickly and efficiently deploy direct field personnel in response to equipment maintenance requirements.

The PMC also supports monitoring the safety of its personnel as they drive to remote locations. The Pipelines organization has outfitted its fleet of vehicles with the Auto Vehicle Locator (AVL) system. Information about vehicle speed, location and operational status is transmitted by satellite to the PMC.

The system enhances employee safety by enabling faster emergency response and rescue operations.

The technology, being developed in collaboration with the Inspection Department and specialty service providers, is designed to identify areas of pipeline coating disbondment and crack type defects, allowing for early repair.

The department now uses instrument scrapers to inspect pipelines and detect maintenance issues. Although these have proven extremely effective for general repairs, other types of defects require more specialized inspection technology. A prototype of the advanced technology is now being tested.