When pipeline operators want to keep a close eye on all activities taking place in the pipeline corridor, satellite-based monitoring is the answer! Pipeline networks are typically spread over vast areas which makes them notoriously difficult to monitor efficiently. Traditional monitoring often relies on observations from a car, plane, or helicopter based on which the operator tries to build the big picture. Satellites however have the ability to observe, and flag relevant activities for entire countries in a matter of seconds; thus, by nature provide superior overview capabilities. In addition, satellites allow accurate assessment of specific locations – the combination of these two has allowed the development of the pipeline monitoring solution CoSMiC-EYE: complete and accurate Right-of-Way monitoring based on satellite-data.

In the next weeks, Orbital Eye will further elaborate on the advantages satellite-based monitoring can bring to pipeline operators. Each week, a specific advantage will be highlighted and explained. Stay tuned!

Today, Orbital Eye takes you on a summer trip to a location where a pipeline next to some beautiful Trinidadian cliffs is monitored, to get you in the holiday mood! 🏖☀️

In the optical satellite imagery, you can clearly see a structure appearing that was detected by CoSMiC-EYE. The on-site visit of this TPI might have been combined with a beach visit 😉

Orbital Eye wishes you a very happy summer and great holidays!

In today’s TPI Tuesday, we see an agricultural activity that was detected by the CoSMiC-EYE system. Routine agricultural activities like planting, plowing, and harvesting, don’t pose a threat to the pipeline integrity, and hence, even though they can be detected by the system, they are not reported to our customers.

In this case, though, the activity was reported, since it can be seen that apart from the vegetation clearance, a digging activity also took place in the field. On the left, the radar signal is depicted before and after the digging activity, and on the right, we see the high-resolution images, followed by the change blob that was created by our algorithms as a result of the change in SAR images.

Interesting fun: there are many other ‘special’ agricultural cases that have been detected by the CoSMiC-EYE system. If you are interested in receiving more examples, please send an email to info@orbitaleye.nl!

 

This week’s TPI Tuesday covers the detection of a threat via radar- and optical satellite imagery; the construction of a house.

This specific activity, which includes preparatory ground works, is located right at the crossing between two gas pipelines and presents a high level of threat if not detected in time.
Detection and reporting, as well as the monitoring of the evolution of the works, allow network operators to follow the threat carefully and get in touch with the construction workers to prevent any damage to the pipeline. In the video, you can see the evolution of the works, essential for pipeline operators to assess the threat, and the radar signal that allowed us to report that threat.

This week’s TPI Tuesday covers the filling of a ditch and the dangers it can provide. As normal as a small ditch may seem, filling it up can be a threat to the pipeline that lies just underneath. The Netherlands is full of these small canals used mostly by agriculture. It is difficult to spot from the ground if a potentially dangerous activity happens at such a location, because they are often not easily accessible. That is where our satellite-based solution is very useful.

The right bottom picture shows the radar amplitude of the area around the ditch. The change in radar due to different signatures of earth and water substances, together with the likely presence of an excavator is detected and shown in the left bottom image.
Due to the swift supply of information about the potential threat, the customer could go to the location and solve the problem. It turned out that the piece of the pipeline was not properly protected in the system, which made the construction company able to start its work without the consent of the network operator. So we did not only prevent a potential situation with the current construction works-, but also future activities in that area should be properly reported to the customer before they start.