RR056 - Appraisal of pipeline surveillance by high resolution satellite Volumes 1, 2 and 3

128 Pages·2002·1.78 MB·English

HSE
Health & Safety
Executive
Appraisal of pipeline surveillance
by high resolution satellite
Volumes I, II and III

Prepared by
Andrew Palmer and Associates
for the Health and Safety Executive 2002

RESEARCH REPORT 056
HSE
Health & Safety
Executive
A cost benefit study of satellite
surveillance
Volume I
Andrew Palmer and Associates
Centre for Pipeline Integrity
4 Riverside Studios
Amethyst Road
Newcastle Business Park
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE4 7YL
United Kingdom
Seven companies sponsored this project to evaluate the potential of high-resolution satellites for
routing and integrity monitoring of on-land transmission pipelines.
The available technology and possible applications were reviewed, a survey carried out to identify the
sponsors requirements, and a functional specification produced. From these, a system was developed
to evaluate the benefits of applying satellite imaging techniques to the routing and surveillance of on-
land transmission pipelines, and to test a selected available satellite to make an estimate of the system
technical effectiveness and costs.
This Volume I presents the cost benefit study, using the input data to provide preliminary first
estimates and consider the sensitivity of some key parameters.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its
contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do
not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
HSE BOOKS
© Crown copyright 2003
First published 2003
ISBN 0 7176 2165 0
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

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Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to:

Licensing Division, Her Majesty's Stationery Office,

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or by e-mail to [email protected]

ii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Seven companies have sponsored a project to evaluate the potential of high-resolution
satellites for the routing and integrity management of onshore transmission pipelines.
The available technology and the possible applications of that technology has been
reviewed. A survey has been carried out to identify the sponsors requirements, and an
outline functional specification has been prepared. The final steps were to develop a system
to evaluate the benefit of applying satellite imaging techniques to the routing and surveillance
of transmission pipelines, and to test the available satellite system to make an estimate of the
technical effectiveness.
This report presents a cost benefit model, using preliminary input data, to provide first
estimates of benefits, and considers the sensitivity to some key parameters.
Conclusions
1. Surveillance
1.1 High satellite image costs make satellites unattractive for surveillance.
At the current quoted price of $16 per km for high resolution satellite images, it is unlikely
that satellites will be cost competitive with helicopters for pipeline surveillance. However,
this cost ($16) is likely to fall significantly.
The cost-benefit examples considered (based on the Gasunie pipeline system) show that
using satellites for surveillance will cost approximately 3.5 times as much as using
helicopters, for the same benefit. This comparison ignores the additional advantages of
satellites, such as permanent records, zero flight safety risks, integration with GIS, etc..
1.2 Satellite image costs need to reduce to $1 per km to make satellites attractive for
surveillance.
If the cost of satellite images decreased to approximately $1/km, satellites would be a
competitive method for surveillance, and also offer many additional advantages.
2. Routing and General Pipeline Management
High resolution satellite imaging will be immediately competitive with aerial photography,
both in terms of cost and quality.
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iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 2

2. DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS................................................................................. 3

2.1 Satellite Surveillance Concept........................................................................... 3

2.2 Helicopter Surveillance ..................................................................................... 5

2.3 Satellite Data for Routing or General Pipeline Management. ............................. 7

2.4 Aerial Photography Data for Routing or General Pipeline Management ............ 7

3. SURVEILLANCE COST BENEFIT............................................................................... 8

3.1 Costs .................................................................................................................. 8

3.2 Benefits ............................................................................................................ 11

3.3 Cost Benefit for Surveillance ........................................................................... 13

3.4 Sensitivity Study............................................................................................... 14

4. ROUTING AND GENERAL PIPELINE MANAGEMENT ......................................... 17

5. CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................... 18

6. 5. REFERENCES......................................................................................................... 19

APPENDIX A Satellite Surveillance cost benefit example
APPENDIX B Helicopter Surveillance cost benefit example
NR98029/4232F/R2 Page 1 of 19
1. INTRODUCTION
Seven companies have sponsored a project to evaluate the potential of high-resolution
satellites for the routing and integrity management of onshore transmission pipelines.
The available technology and the possible applications of that technology has been
reviewed[1]. A survey has been carried out to identify the sponsors requirements[2], and an
outline functional specification has been prepared[3]. The final steps were to develop a
system to evaluate the benefit of applying satellite imaging techniques to the routing and
surveillance of transmission pipelines, and to test the available satellite system to make an
estimate of the technical effectiveness.
This report describes a simple quantitative cost benefit model to be used in the evaluation of
satellite data for pipeline surveillance.
NR98029/4232F/R2 Page 2 of 19
2. DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS
To compare the benefits of different surveillance systems it is important to understand how
the systems work. This section gives a brief overview of the concept for the use of satellites
for surveillance and for general pipeline management activities. Helicopter and aerial
photography data collection systems are also described.
2.1 Satellite Surveillance Concept
A schematic of the proposed system is shown in Figure 1. The system is broken down into 4
stages:
1) The satellite collects data over pipeline route.
2) The satellite operator (e.g. Space Imaging) checks data quality and transmits to Service
Provider via a high capacity data link.
3) The service provider (e.g. ISS) processes data to improve sharpness and balance
colours for optimum detection of infringements. The service provider also carries out:
a) Automatic geo-referencing by image matching.
b) Semi-automatic screening, by comparison with previous data sets, to identify areas
of ‘high risk’ i.e. areas where changes have been detected that are indicative of
potentially damaging activities or damage.
The service provider forwards data on the locations of concern to the pipeline engineer
responsible for the lines in that area1. At this stage the data quantity should be greatly
reduced and current internet based systems may be sufficient to deal with distribution to
a number of dispersed offices. The data would be forwarded in an agreed GIS ready
format so that the user can overlay the data onto pipeline route maps, etc.. The service
provider also stores the data collected in case it may be needed in the future.
4) The pipeline engineer reviews images of ‘high risk’ locations in their area. It is
intended that the engineer should be familiar with the area and have knowledge of the
types of activity that are common, activities that have been picked up by other means,
etc.. This engineer will decide if a site investigation is required.
One perceived advantage of helicopter surveillance systems is that the helicopter flights
provide a reminder to the occupier that there is a pipeline on their land. To replicate this it
is proposed that all occupiers should regularly be sent satellite images of the pipeline route
across their land. This will be cheap and efficient and may be attractive to the occupier.
1 An area is assumed to be a regional network of high pressure pipelines totalling 1500km in length.
NR98029/4232F/R2 Page 3 of 19
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2.2 Helicopter Surveillance
A schematic demonstrating helicopter surveillance is given in Figure 2. The basic steps are
as follows:
1. Observer in helicopter surveys pipeline route, and detects infringements.
2. The observer makes a preliminary classification of any infringements. At this stage,
if there seems to be a very high risk of damage, it is possible for the helicopter to
land for an immediate investigation of the infringement.
3. On return to base the observer prepares a survey report, listing location and nature of
infringements identified. In some cases, sections of video footage may be included.
4. The responsible engineer reviews the survey report and decides on any requirement
for site investigation. In some cases the observer is the responsible engineer.
NR98029/4232F/R2 Page 5 of 19