GIS Applications in Energy Pipelines

GIS applications in energy pipelines enable petroleum organizations to manage data with a geographic component.

Due to GIS applications in energy pipelines, the pipeline operator is provided with better capability to manage the integrity of the pipeline. They are able to improve efficiencies in pipeline operations and enhance the response to business development opportunities.

GIS applications in energy pipelines: overview

Today, pipeline operators are under tremendous pressure due to fierce competition and also have to face certain regulatory constraints for which they are required to act in a more efficient and responsible manner. In order to always be equipped, pipeline operators need to access information on geographically distributed assets and operations which can be regulated by GIS applications in energy pipelines. In the beginning, the pipeline operators referred to the manually planned alignment sheets, but those were mostly not updated and hence it was not profitable to depend on these sheets totally.

Functions of GIS applications in energy pipelines

By and large, GIS applications in energy pipelines perform certain operations which are for the benefit of the pipeline operators. Some of the major functions are:

• Making the alignment sheets upto date
• Validating existing information
• Acquiring new information
• Drafting the updated alignment sheets
• Integrating alignment sheet information into the pipeline information model

Benefits of using GIS applications in energy pipelines

The benefits derived by pipeline operators from their use of GIS applications in energy pipelines are as follows:

• Time saving method
• Cost effective method
• Proper storage and management of facility information and other data
• Display tools available in GIS software visualizes planned work
• Risk evaluation gives a comprehensive and systematic method for building and maintaining pipeline risk models
• Supports risk mitigation

In a nutshell, the GIS applications in energy pipelines provides the integration of the data and the graphical reporting environment required to build and maintain comprehensive pipeline risk models. Moreover, through these updated GIS applications, the risky sections of a pipeline which needs to be upgraded immediately are easily identified. Moreover, by reducing uncertainty and financial obligation associated with transportation and energy production, the operational activities of the energy pipelines are maximized.