Imagine a distant land in North Dakota, USA, with towering peaks and not a single bar of cell phone signal in sight. It’s here that our user case unfolds, focusing on the grit and determination of an oil and gas company striving to manage their pipelines efficiently.
The Challenges.
Out there in the rugged backcountry, the lack of reliable cell service is like an unsolved riddle. It’s the first challenge our customer faces — how to monitor everything in real-time without the luxury of connectivity. But that’s just the peak of the mountain.
The real struggle comes from dealing with ancient pipelines. These old-timers demand frequent cleanups, often requiring attention daily. Yet, knowing precisely when to initiate these cleanups is like chasing shadows. Sometimes they hit the clean button too late, and the consequence is unnecessary gas flaring, causing both environmental and financial strains. Other times, they hit it too soon, disrupting production and losing money.
The key? Find that sweet spot of optimal cleaning to cut down on flaring, keep the cash flow steady, and respect the planet all at once. It’s a puzzle worth solving.
The Solution.
In this demanding environment, our user has set up a network consisting of 28 sensors and 3 gateways to start with, all powered by solar energy. Despite the challenging conditions and high altitudes, these installations manage to maintain efficient communication and reach impressive distances.
In a bid to streamline their operations and make the most out of their pipeline network, the company has strategically installed pressure sensors. These sensors act as the vigilant eyes on their pipelines, offering real-time monitoring of pressure levels. Such real-time data is invaluable as it guides the optimization of their pigging schedule — the crucial process of cleaning and maintaining the pipelines.
By achieving a more precise and data-driven approach to pigging, they have successfully reduced flaring, a significant win for both their operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. Moreover, this strategic use of data has eliminated production losses attributed to unnecessary flow pauses during pigging, showcasing the positive impact of well-informed decision-making in this challenging terrain.
The Results so far:
In this use example, we unravel the transformative outcomes achieved through strategic advancements in pipeline management. By leveraging a meticulously designed sensor and a gateway network, the frequency of unnecessary pigging has been impressively slashed by approximately 50%. This noteworthy reduction in unnecessary pigging has not only streamlined operations but also translated into significant cost savings and minimise environmental impact.
Additionally, a commendable accomplishment has been witnessed in the domain of flaring reduction. The implementation of our advanced sensor and gateway system has led to a remarkable decrease in flaring, underscoring the sustainable practices and positive environmental contributions this technology brings to the forefront.
Looking ahead, the focus shifts towards seamless integration of the data collected. The objective is to merge this wealth of information into their existing systems, paving the way for the creation of a customised dashboard tailored to their specific use case. This integration promises to empower the company with a holistic view of their operations, aiding informed decision-making and further optimising their pipeline management processes.
