Intelligent Real-Time Pipeline and Terminal Surveillance for a Liquid Fuels System

An intelligent, real-time pipeline surveillance system was recently developed to support the operation of a new multi-products fuel pipeline and terminal system on the Island of Trinidad. The real-time operations surveillance system is a tool for the Liquid Fuel System (LFS) operators to use in monitoring and controlling the movement of fuel products though a system of storage tanks and pipelines. With its own permissive warnings, coupled with those additional alarms of related control systems, the real-time surveillance system provides a major built-in deterrent against tank over-filling and excessive batch mixing. The real-time operations surveillance system shows the status of fuel movement throughout the system at all times, prompts the system operators in making tank switches, and continually monitors the system for operational errors. The software is also used with an operator training simulator to validate operating procedures and train operators.