Out of Sight Isn’t Out of Mind

Each and every day, millions of miles of pipeline transport hydrocarbons — such as crude oil or natural gas — from the source to refineries, and then ultimately to consumers. Crossing the landscape largely unseen, pipelines traverse quiet wilderness and bustling communities, providing the safest and most efficient method of hydrocarbon transportation in the world today.

With nearly 2.5 million miles of pipelines cross the United States alone, concerns are rising about the integrity and safety of this network. In fact, half of those pipelines are 50 years old or more. Yet with Emerson’s approach to pipeline integrity management, leak prevention options have never been better.

To get the clearest picture of what’s happening within the pipeline, Emerson’s sensing devices are placed along the length of the pipe to constantly gather data. These smart devices, along with a suite of pipeline integrity and operational management software applications and integrated risk-based analytics software tools, enable energy companies to monitor conditions that identify potential weak spots in the pipeline resulting in targeted capital deployment to high risk areas of the pipeline.

For instance, Emerson’s cutting-edge technology can determine corrosion and the rate of thinning of a piping wall, buying crucial time and giving engineers real-time insights on preventive maintenance actions to take. Meanwhile, Emerson control systems provide immediate solutions, such as reducing the flow rate to lower pipeline pressure, decreasing the chances of an incident. This combination of real-time information and decision support software and services enhances operational efficiency, commercial profitability and safety across the oil and gas pipeline.

Advanced Leak Detection

While pipeline technology has advanced dramatically, no pipe is flawless. When it comes to pipeline leaks, the difference between identifying a leak in 10 minutes versus 10 hours is the difference between a fast-fix issue and disaster that makes the news. It’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly.

In the rare event a leak does occur, Emerson has advanced leak detection technology, making it possible to identify the leak and pinpoint its precise location, so corrective actions can be taken immediately to reduce impact. Leveraging a variety of data, this technology provides transient pipeline modeling in real time, an invaluable tool for pipeline operators around the world.

Our technology is critical to helping companies first prevent issues they couldn’t previously see in advance, and then address problems that do arise faster than ever before. But even more importantly, it makes it possible to prevent leaks from happening in the first place.

At Emerson, we see protecting our environment as more than a pipe dream. Thanks to our pipeline integrity management innovations, it’s a global reality.