TPI Tuesday – Orbital eye

Dredging activity detected

January 17, 2023/in TPI Tuesday, Uncategorized /by oe_web_admin

Today we present another activity detected by our satellite-based monitoring solution CoSMiC-EYE: dredging.

Dredging activities can have a significant impact on pipelines, causing damage and disruption to operations and therefore need to be monitored closely by pipeline operators. Through the analysis of multi-spectral data from the Sentinel-2 satellite, we detected the dredging activity shown in the video, and reported this to our customer. Besides, we provided high-resolution optical satellite data for the location of the dredging activity, enabling this customer to follow the progress of dredging from the office.

Are you working in the oil and gas industry and want to improve the industry?

October 4, 2022/in TPI Tuesday /by oe_web_admin

If you are indeed working in the oil and gas industry, then either you or your colleagues definitely face the challenge of keeping your pipeline safe from excavators, or other Third-Party Interferences. Therefore, safety measurements like frequent pipeline monitoring are essential if you want to avoid major incidents.

Here is an example of starting construction works right next to the pipeline of one of our customers. If they were not aware of this activity on time, an incident could have occurred causing enormous damage. Do not worry, we had their back, because we informed them on time about this activity!

Thanks to Orbital Eye’s sustainable satellite-based monitoring solution CoSMiC-EYE, it is not necessary to be in the field all the time to be aware of the activities taking place next to your pipeline. We see this from space.

Benefits of Satellite Based Pipeline Monitoring #8 Sustainability

September 20, 2022/in TPI Tuesday /by oe_web_admin

The main reason for pipeline operators to monitor their pipeline network for Third Party Interferences is because they want to prevent incidents that could hinder product delivery, cause environmental damages, or pose a threat to nearby communities. However, if aerial inspections are used to monitor this network, communities are still disturbed by noise, polluting CO2 emissions are emitted, as well as NOx emissions that are harmful to critical nature reserves. More and more energy companies are looking for ways to reduce this environmental footprint: CoSMiC-EYE is the solution. Satellite-based monitoring isn’t paired with hardly any emissions, and produces zero noise!

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗦𝗠𝗶𝗖-𝗘𝗬𝗘:
✅ No CO2 emissions
✅ No noise pollution
✅ No NOx emissions

Another sustainable aspect of satellite-based monitoring is that with currently available satellites, networks all over the world can be monitored. Compare this to conventional monitoring, where for each network, a separate aerial fleet is used to monitor it. Imagine the emissions of all aerial fleets combined – especially when compared to the almost zero emissions when all these networks would be monitored by satellite-based monitoring.

Striking the satellite balance

September 13, 2022/in TPI Tuesday /by oe_web_admin

Grounded in years of research, CoSMiC-EYE is one of the most cost effective satellite monitoring solutions. The key is an intelligent use of open and commercial data. Open data sources scan the pipeline network at a high temporal frequency. More expensive commercial satellites are only tasked at locations where our AI algorithms flag activities based on the open data sources. Because, why would you order expensive commercial data at locations where no events are taking place? This is the balance that CoSMiC-EYE has mastered.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗦𝗠𝗶𝗖-𝗘𝗬𝗘:
✅ Intelligent combination of open and commercial data
✅ Lower operational costs compared to existing solutions
✅ Reduction of unnecessary field visits by ground patrol

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱:
In this example, the combination of open and commercial satellite data is depicted as used by CoSMiC-EYE. A groundwork activity in Trinidad was detected in the freely available Sentinel-1 and 2 data. Next, a high-resolution optical satellite was tasked to acquire an image of the same location to assist the decision making of the office and field operators and keep their corridor safe.

Benefits of Satellite Based Pipeline Monitoring #6 Scalability

September 6, 2022/in TPI Tuesday, Uncategorized /by oe_web_admin

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?
Common ways of monitoring pipeline networks are by aerial inspection, or by car patrol. But what happens when the network increases in size? Or when the monitoring frequency has to be increased to maintain a safety level under the trend of increasing groundworks for the energy transition? An additional helicopter flight is needed and extra personal is hired for the car patrols. Those solutions increase the already costly monitoring expenses and can not be regarded scalable at all. The solution provided by CoSMiC-EYE is per definition easily scalable because of the use of satellites. We can start monitoring all over the world without having to get equipment at difficult to reach places. It is simultaneously very straightforward and cost-effective to double the monitoring frequency compared to the other methods. We do not have to hire additional people to drive or fly by the network. All can be done with the already available satellites and can be monitored easily from the office by the same person.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗦𝗠𝗶𝗖-𝗘𝗬𝗘:
✅ Provides an almost instant monitoring solution all over the world
✅ Straightforward and cost effective to increase monitoring frequency
✅ Requires little extra personnel when expanding

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱:
The principle of scalability of satellite based pipeline operations is easily explained in the video. An area in the Netherlands in green is monitored by a radar satellite. The red box is the area being monitored by the satellite; here a single overpass of a single satellite. With that same overpass, we can monitor as well a network in Spain near Barcelona. Then we zoom out and see the coverage of that single satellite for a 12 day period, and you can see how easily scalable CoSMiC-EYE really is! And we didn’t even take into account that there are so much more satellites we acquire data from.

Benefits of Satellite Based Pipeline Monitoring #５: Reliability

August 30, 2022/in TPI Tuesday, Uncategorized /by oe_web_admin

𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲:
All sensors have their strengths and weaknesses. Or do they? CoSMiC-EYE fuses multiple satellites together to overcome the conventional weaknesses of aerial-based inspections. The combination of satellites cancels out the individual weaknesses of each respective sensor. As a result, CoSMiC-EYE has proven to provide data and analytics in all weather conditions, at any time of the day, and at at any place in the world. That’s a comprehensive summary of what we call reliability.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗦𝗠𝗶𝗖-𝗘𝗬𝗘:
✅ radar satellites operate in any weather and daytime condition
✅ high-resolution optical satellites provide multiple overpasses per day
✅ AI combines all sensors together to provide insightful analytics

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱:
The video illustrates the basic working principle of CoSMiC-EYE. The radar satellite cuts through the cloud and detects an unknown object near the corridor. High-resolution optical satellites are tasked and show what is happening on the ground. In this case, the unknown object was confirmed to be an excavator by ground patrol.

Benefits of Satellite Based Pipeline Monitoring #4: Complete Database

August 23, 2022/in TPI Tuesday /by oe_web_admin

𝗔 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴:
data access and availability are key for decision making and therefore integrating satellite derived intelligence with information from the field adds value. A pipeline operator needs a complete overview by having access to all relevant sources at any place and time to come to a conclusion. CoSMiC-EYE fulfils these operator needs using a single platform.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗦𝗠𝗶𝗖-𝗘𝗬𝗘:
✅ all geospatial data sources are integrated into CoSMiC-EYE (e.g. one call tickets, work permits, results of other monitoring methods)
✅ all optical data is stored in the CoSMiC-EYE app, enabling operators to look back in time to check when activities took place or when activities started
✅ as CoSMiC-EYE is a very complete database, operators can very efficiently determine for a location what’s happening

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱:
In the video you see a detected event close to Delft. A complete report is available for this location, that includes descriptive data, all previously detected changes at this location and multiple high-resolution optical images. Such a report is available for all locations near your assets – CoSMiC-EYE provides a complete database for all activities taking place close within your area of interest!

Benefits of Satellite Based Pipeline Monitoring #3 No fly-zone monitoring

August 16, 2022/in TPI Tuesday /by oe_web_admin

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼-𝗳𝗹𝘆 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀: often, parts of a pipeline network run through no-fly zones such as urban areas and airports, causing that aerial inspection by helicopter is not possible. Satellite-based Pipeline Monitoring allows to monitor pipelines where aircrafts as well as drones are off-limits, or only allowed to fly very high.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗦𝗠𝗶𝗖-𝗘𝗬𝗘:
✅ frequent monitoring of no-fly zones is possible
✅ optical imagery is provided for no-fly zones (if regulation allows)
✅ on-ground follow-up is only needed when an activity is detected by satellite

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱:
The current example is set in Paris, above the Stade de France, where we survey the evolution of the constructions linked to the 2024 Olympic Games which are close to a pipeline we monitor. The city of Paris restricts small aircrafts and drones fly-overs under 3000m, which makes satellite-based monitoring the way-to-go!

TPI Tuesday – Benefits of Satellite Based Pipeline Monitoring #2: Monitoring of remote areas

August 9, 2022/in TPI Tuesday /by oe_web_admin

Monitoring remote areas in seconds: pipeline networks are often spread over large areas and run through different types of landscapes; from dense forests and mountains to seaside areas. Frequent monitoring of the remote areas by ground patrolling is challenging, due to the travel time, fuel costs and inaccessibility of locations. However, satellites can monitor even the most remote parts of the network multiple times per week within seconds!

Benefits of CoSMiC-EYE
✅ Monitoring remote areas multiple times per week within seconds, independent of the landscape type and accessibility

✅ Reduces travel time and fuel costs, only visit remote areas on-site areas when it’s necessary

✅ Due to the reduced fuel usage, increase sustainability of monitoring

Benefits illustrated: This TPI Tuesday shows 2 Third Party Interferences (TPIs) that posed a potential threat and were detected in the most remote parts of the network of one of Orbital Eye’s customers, where ground patrol on a frequent basis is very challenging

TPI Tuesday – Benefits of Satellite Based Pipeline Monitoring #1: Operational Efficiency

August 2, 2022/in TPI Tuesday /by oe_web_admin

We bring efficiency: monitoring pipelines by aerial- or ground patrol is time-consuming. Every part of the network needs to be checked to mitigate hazardous activities. Orbital Eye monitors entire pipeline networks without the need to visit each and every location…

Monitoring from space: the satellite-based monitoring solution CoSMiC-EYE, developed by Orbital Eye, automatically checks for any activities in the pipeline network:
✅ CoSMiC-EYE detects and locates a threat close to the pipeline’
✅ Operators are notified in time;
✅ Pipeline companies can ensure that resources are spent only on locations where it matters

Benefits illustrated: This TPI Tuesday shows how Third Party Interferences (TPIs) are detected along this pipeline network – and within seconds the pipeline operators can go from one TPI to the next TPI, by just zooming out and in again. CoSMiC-EYE thus allows pipeline operators to save time and resources when monitoring the pipeline – increasing operational efficiency!