 EDM Services' Trip Wire® system (patent pending) detects and locates third party intrusions, one of the leading causes of pipeline lead incidents. This relatively inexpensive system incorporates a fiber optic Trip Wire®, which is installed twelve to twenty four inches above the pipeline or other critical facility. Optical instruments continuously monitor the integrity of the Trip Wire® cable. Should the cable become damaged or severed (e.g. by a construction contractor, exposure within a stream crossing, etc.) the optical device(s), which can be integrated into the pipeline programmable logic controllers (PLC's) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, output the location of the cable damage.
Operationally, when the Trip Wire® is damaged or severed, the operator receives a third part intrusion alarm at their control center. This alarm provides the location of the intrusion, within an accuracy of about one meter. In most installations, the system can recognize, locate and alarm the operator of an intrusion or potential pipeline exposure within about thirty seconds.
The alarm, coupled with the precise location of the third party intrusion or potential pipe exposure, allows the pipeline operator to dispatch personnel directly to the intrusion site, often preventing the pipe from being damaged. These personnel can then inspect and repair their facilities before long term corrosion or pipe over pressure leak incidents can occur. When a third party intrusion results in an immediate leak, the precise location information provided by the Trip Wire® system allows the operator to immediately dispatch emergency response personnel directly to the intrusion site, significantly reducing impacts to the environment and human life.
The Trip Wire® system provides several benefits:
- Provides nearly immediate and accurate location of potential third party pipeline intrusions.
- Allows immediate dispatching of maintenance personnel directly to the site.
- Provides vital real time right-of-way information. In critical installations, this allows the operator to shut down and/or purge the pipeline prior to a potential release.
- Enables immediate inspection and repair of a pipeline facility. This prevents long term corrosion and pipe over pressure leak incidents. These incidents can occur long after the facility has suffered otherwise unknown third party damage.
- Provides an advance alarm of many naturally occurring events. For example, stream scour and landslides often damage the Trip Wire® well before the critical structure is impacted
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