Pipeline Safety :New Directions ,Old Concerns

摘要

The well-respected global engineering consulting and construction firm based in Overland Park, Kan., Black & Veatch (B&V), has a corporate-wide focus on fostering sustainable infrastructure. The company's radar these days has zeroed in on energy carrying pipelines as a meaningful sector of interest.With more than 3,000 energy industry assignments in 40 countries, B&V engineers tend to be listened to, and the company thinks it has something important to say about oil and gas pipeline management.Focusing on the more efficient and effective application of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, B&V is advocating for a more integrated, advanced and complete system for the management of long-haul pipelines. The company has drilled down to pipeline control rooms and their management, noting operators need to look beyond the stringent regulations governing their operations."While it's commonly believed that the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) rules strictly govern the management of control rooms, the pipeline's chief purpose needs to be considered to fully understand the relationship between the pipeline's commercial value and its role, along with how PHMSA rules factor into its safe operation," B&V engineers wrote in a technical abstract. They contend that pipeline stakeholder needs should be included when shortening and improving the SCADA control room design phase.