Pipeline scada upgrade uses satellite terminal system

Journal Article · Mon Feb 09 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7095418

Conrad, W; Skovrinski, J R

In the recent automation of its supervisory control and data acquisition (scada) system, Transwestern Pipeline Co. has become the first to use very small aperture satellite terminals (VSAT's) for scada. A subsidiary of Enron Interstate Pipeline, Houston, Transwestern moves natural gas through a 4,400-mile system from West Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma to southern California markets. Transwestern's modernization, begun in November 1985, addressed problems associated with its aging control equipment which had been installed when the compressor stations were built in 1960. Over the years a combination of three different systems had been added. All were cumbersome to maintain and utilized outdated technology. Problems with reliability, high maintenance time, and difficulty in getting new parts were determining factors in Transwestern's decision to modernize its scada system. In addition, the pipeline was anticipating moving its control center from Roswell, N.M., to Houston and believed it would be impossible to marry the old system with the new computer equipment in Houston.

• Research Organization: Enron Interstate Pipelines, Houston, TX
• OSTI ID: 7095418
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 85:6; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
42 ENGINEERING
420205 -- Engineering-- Transport & Storage Facilities-- (1980-)
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
MAINTENANCE
MODIFICATIONS
NATURAL GAS
PIPELINES
RELIABILITY
RETROFITTING
SATELLITES
TIME DEPENDENCE
TRANSPORT