Reliable monitoring of oil and gas pipelines using wireless sensor network (WSN) — REMONG

Development in the domain of embedded systems and communication technologies have created an industrial need to automate tasks and to render more control. Rapid advancement in data processing technologies, wireless communication, evolution of Micro-Electromechanical Systems, business intelligence, process planning and control has created a room for improvement in all areas of industrial practices related to oil and gas processing. Reliable monitoring whilst reporting to remote control rooms in a timely manner for oil and gas carrying pipelines creates a bigger challenge due to its lengthy span. In this paper, we investigate and propose an oil and gas pipeline monitoring solution based on wireless sensor networks with reliability focus on leakage sensing and wireless data communication. The system is developed indigenously and provides capability of reporting pipeline health related statistics stretched over large geographical areas.

I. Introduction

Centralized monitoring of oil and gas installations in general and pipelines in particular lack in the aspect of intelligent sustainable monitoring since long. This difficulty not only comes from the length of the pipeline infrastructure but also from the tough terrain and intense environment characteristics. Though, various techniques have been proposed for pipeline monitoring, mostly based around wireless solutions; an integrated solution for optimized reliable sensing to secure and timely data transfer over a remote control room is still lacking. Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technology has gained much importance for structural health monitoring applications over the years due to rapid advancements in underlying technologies like sensing capability and resolution, communication protocols, processor speed, energy harvesting and embedded systems. These developments are gradually being adopted in oil and gas industry to automate processes and to empower the system with more control. The use of sensors and actuation methods have also gained strategic importance due to factors like business intelligence, competitive edge, time to market, quality and reliability standardization for industry related fluid and commodity movement, particularly the transfer of energy related products like oil and gas.