The Vision for European Gas/Oil Pipeline Operators

PRESENSE - Pipeline REmote SENsing for Safety and the Environment - aims to further improve the safe and secure transmission of gas in Europe's extensive high pressure gas mains transmission systems, by assessing the potential benefits of remote monitoring techniques and processes.

The objectives are to develop and integrate the elements of a pipeline management system for European gas/oil pipeline operators to improve safety, reduce survey costs and improve transmission efficiency through increased monitoring frequency. The European high-pressure gas pipeline grid (15-85 bar) exceeds 110,000km in length and the operators currently use a range of safety monitoring approaches, including regular helicopter surveys, to maintain pipeline integrity. Hundreds of incidents are reported each year such as 3rd party interference and soil movement, some of which result in methane releases (a strong greenhouse gas).

The ultimate target is a new form of pipeline management system based upon remote satellite surveillance, providing pipeline operators with a computer based information system capable of alerting them to potential pipeline damage, in all weather and lighting conditions.

A €4m remote sensing, pipeline monitoring project, driven by Advantica Technologies Ltd., with 17 collaborating partners, has been supported by the European Commission 5th Framework Research and Technology Development programme, FP5. The programme commenced on the 1st January 2002.