Session: 04-02-01 Monitoring & Surveillance

Paper Number: 133325

133325 - A Review of a Satellite-Based Solution for Pipeline Right-of-Way Monitoring 

Abstract: 

PTT is a leading entity in Thailand's energy sector, responsible for managing the gas transmission system that includes both onshore and offshore pipelines with a total length over 5,000 kilometers. To maintain safety and integrity of this essential infrastructure, PTT utilizes various patrolling methods, including vehicle surveillance and UAV inspection. However, with these methods, challenges emerge in onshore areas due to restrictions or inaccessibility. Therefore, PTT initiated a pilot project during 2022, leveraging satellite technology to overcome these challenges.

Within this pilot project, PTT collaborated with Orbital Eye, a company from Delft, the Netherlands, by utilizing weather-independent Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-, Multispectral-, and High-Resolution optical satellite data to detect activities within the pipeline right-of-way, including construction, third-party intrusion, and other disturbances.

PTT’s specific focus was directed towards activities occurring within the 30-meter pipeline corridor, especially as a significant portion of the pipeline traverses through soft clay zones. PTT had access to an GIS-application, in which all detected activities were presented, along with high-resolution optical satellite images for the locations of detected activities.

As part of the pilot project, we conducted an analysis of the results achieved by satellite-based monitoring. Within a year time, more than 3000 activities were detected through the analysis of satellite data, with an impressive accuracy rate exceeding 90%. The activities were all verified by PTT’s GIS staffs and field operational crews, either through the analysis of optical data, or through traditional on-site patrolling.  The detected activities were classified into specific activity groups, which showed that almost 50% of the activities were related to construction or ground works. We also compared the results of satellite-based monitoring versus the results of vehicle patrolling and UAV inspection, which showed that there was a commendable 62% match – but which also indicated that with satellite-based monitoring we were able to detect a larger total number of activities.    

The successful application of satellite analytics for pipeline monitoring signifies a substantial advancement. Integrating this advanced technology into pipeline monitoring enhances efficiency and increases the information level of PTT about activities going on in its pipeline corridor, especially in remote, and hard-to-access areas. However, the pilot also showed many opportunities to improve. This paper presents the results achieved during a year of satellite-based monitoring, along with the lessons learned and operational impact of adding this advanced technology to our monitoring methods.

Presenting Author: Thidarat Chonjaroen PTT Public Company Limited

Presenting Author Biography: Thidarat Chonjaroen is survey engineer. Her career has been in GIS industry for 9 years. She has worked with PTT since 2019 as GIS engineer. She has experience in location class review and remote sensing. Her recent responsibility is the project to use satellite-based solution to monitor the corridor of over 2,000 onshore gas transmission.

Authors:

Tanat Chayangkul Na Aduthaya PTT Public Company Limited
Thidarat Chonjaroen PTT Public Company Limited
Sasiphan Sanlung PTT Public Company Limited
Amnuay Wongpanich PTT Public Company Limited
Arnaud Van Den Berg Orbital Eye B.V.