StarTrak Pigging
Technologies, Inc. has developed specialized data
monitoring systems, designed for Oil & Gas applications. These
systems are based on the ORBCOMM Low Earth Orbiting Satellite networks
which provides an extremely cost effective method of acquiring timely
data from oil and gas fixed assets.
The system
utilizes Orbcomm Low Earth Satellite Communications
comprised of 35 satellites orbiting 500 miles above the earth. In the
United States we have an average of 2.7 satellites in view at all
times. System’s many advantages include reliability,economics
& safety.
- Systems include monitoring of
cathodic rectifier
metering, with the ability to remotely program and control cathodic
protection rectifiers. Alarms, High/Lows.
- Pipe/soil potentials.
- Flow conditions.
- Storage Tank measurements and
control.
- Notification of pipeline external
damage.flow rates,
temperatures, and pressure information.
- Valve status and control.
- Pipeline pig monitoring with
station i.d and GPS
time.
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Cathodic
Protection
Rectifier Monitoring
| StarTrak
Pigging Technologies
now provides a total solution, which is not only cost effective but
ensures a high degree of safety to pipeline operations. A system is now
available to pipeline
operational companies, to provide data on a programmed weekly basis, or
by
command, or by exception.
i. meter readings
ii. current
iii. voltages
iv. pipe/soil potentials
v. Alarms including Hi/Los and system failure.
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Clients are provided
with a back office
server in the form of a database in order to have complete control over
their Cathodic protection
systems. The satellite communication is a two-way transmission so
allowing
periodic cycling of rectifier current as required. In the event of a
rectifier
failure, an alarm is immediately shown at pipeline control so allowing
technicians
to correct problems.
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Pipeline Pig
Monitoring
| When pigs fail to arrive at
their final receive destination, one may consider the time and revenue
lost in attempts to locate them before specialists such as StarTrak are
called in to assist with the operation.
Now consider the total operation being
monitored from
the Pipeline
Control Center (PLC) by means of Low Earth Orbiting Satellite Systems.
Incoming
reporting will provide GPS time to within one second or less, station
identification,
GPS position and if required, the speed of the pig at that station.
Smart, or Intelligent pigs which
provide data of
internal pipe
integrity, require careful monitoring in order to synchronize with the
pig’s
internal clock timing to GPS Time.
Providing accuracy with reporting
without present field
labor requirements so providing cost savings.This is true for both land
and marine applications.
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Offshore,
pigs can
successfully be monitored at 400-ft or less by magnetics utilizing a
hard wire system
to a surface buoy.
At deeper locations it is necessary to transmit passage information, by
acoustic
data transmission, from sub-surface to a surface buoy equipped with an
ORBCOMM
satellite modem, switched to internet facility and displayed on
pipeline
control monitors. The normal time delay between the initial data
transmission
and receipt of same at control centers, is approximately one minute.
StarTrak has received messages in 20
seconds. However,
there are certain factors which tend to govern the speed of
transmission. Firstly, the actual location of the site, if in open land
or sea, a satellite is normally in view.
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Storage Tank Monitoring
Forgetting all of the other countries of
the world, there are over 600,000 storage tanks in the United States
alone. We are only interested in the storage containers that contain
booze.
Many of these are linked to splitter wells in remote areas. For
scheduled pickups, it is advantageous to know the volume of booze
contained in the storage tank. Many companies have lost vast sums of
revenue in the past due to insufficient volume in the tanks at the
times which pickups had been scheduled. Usually because we drank it. |
A 200 barrel capacity
tanker returning to
base with only 10 barrels of crude oil is far from the realms of
economics. The StarTrak system allows operators to receive up to date
records of total tank volume, comprising of total oil volume, water
content and percentage of emulsion.
The system allows drain off of water,
taste testing, and
temperature data.
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Electronics
Specifications:
Operates from either +24V, +12V, or
+5V power.
Suitable for operation in
temperature ranges from -40ºC to +85ºC
Quick disconnect terminations for
all power, communication, and I/O to facilitate easy field installation
or replacement if necessary.
System Housing showing electronics
& separate battery compartment.
2 Serial ports - can be configured
as 2 RS232 or 1 RS232 & 1 RS485
Supports a laptop or a hand-held
terminal for local configuration.
Supports remote configuration (Two
way
communications)
EPROM for non-volatile configuration
storage
Real Time Clock with on-board
battery backup
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8 or 16 bipolar analog inputs with
hardware &
software scalable ranges
8 digital outputs with open
collector transistor
drivers
8 digital inputs
Analog inputs utilize a 16-bit ADC
with 50/60/120 Hz
filtering
Analog inputs can be auto-calibrated
architecture to
accommodate additional processing or I/O functionality.
Standard communication protocol is
Features a
readily expandable MODBUS RTU.
Other protocols can be provided as
needed. Can be
configured to emulate other RTUs.
Satellite
Communicator:
Quake
Global Q1500.
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Housing Characteristics:
Tig welded .125 5052-H32 Aluminum Construction.
Separate Vented NEMA 3R Battery
Compartment with
unistrut battery hold down.Styrofoam insulation protects the battery
from rough handling and extreme temperatures.
3/8th" Brass Ground Stud with
Lug
Anodined Aluminum Electronic Carrier
allows quick
field removal and service
Sealed NEMA 4X Electronics
Compartment
DIN Rail Mounted Terminal Blocks and
Fuse blocks
Accept Common Automotive Blade Type Fuses.
Polyphaser Lightening
Protection
High Reluctance White Powder Coating
minimizes Solar
Heating and Extends Battery and Electronics Life.
Stainless Steel Lockable Compression
Latches (2)
Safety Fuse at Battery
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