Situation

There is growing demand throughout the world to use technology for oil and gas pipeline security and to prevent environmental damage through early leak detection. In Mexico, the recent pipeline explosion and loss of life were a resulted of criminal activity that included siphoning pipeline production then selling the product to unsuspecting consumers. This type of criminal activity is increasing around the world, which increases the need for smart monitoring devices to protect pipelines and notify authorities when a pipeline right of way has been entered by unauthorized personnel.
Trailer with 100 mm thermal camera

Solution

United Protection offers a unique Canadian solution that includes powerful software that can detect when a person has entered a
critical area with virtual trip wires. It also knows when an object has been taken or left behind. Once an alarm has been triggered, on-site pan tilt zoom cameras can be programmed to lock and track on the intruder. This provides detailed video footage of what they did during
the event to help resolve the issue as quickly as possible. It can also provide visual confirmation of pressure monitoring devices and send alerts when changes occur.
Alarms can be sent to handheld devices as well as monitoring stations. Each alarm includes a picture or a video clip of the event so that authorities have enough visual information to determine what type of response is required.

United Protection offers a patented new method to protect pipelines and detect oil and gas leaks. The system is discreet so intruders are not aware that they are being monitored. It uses virtual trip wires or virtual trap doors to detect when unauthorized personnel are approaching a pipeline or have entered a critical area.

The solution can also be used for early leak detection. Most leaks are difficult to detect since they start out small so they cannot be found using existing technology. Early leak detection is critical to reduce environmental impact and the cost for clean up. Each application is unique; it will require individual assessment to determine optimal performance. United Protection’s solution uses a patented hardware/software solution combined with a thermal camera that can accurately detect small leaks including:

• Spray 
• Drip 
• Fast Pooling Ground 
• Slow Spread on Pipe Surface 
• Drip and Pool Combination

Once a leak or spill is detected, the solution sends real-time event notification to several authorized personnel through e-mail. The site can then be viewed remotely for verification through the Internet, monitoring stations or through a Blackberry application. This can also be tied into emergency response programs for rapid response. Learn how United Protection’s world leading technology can secure pipelines.