Editorial comment
To kick off 2024, we’re running a keynote feature on the digitalisation journey for pipeline companies. Articles from AVEVA, ABB and Rockwell Automation provide a close look at how digitalisation can benefit pipeline operations.
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Stuart Parker from AVEVA offers insight into the six ways that forward-looking pipeline companies are installing intelligent pipeline frameworks through the use of digital systems (p. 8). Read the piece to learn about digitising liquid and gas pipeline operations, along with processes such as leak detection, training, fiscal measurement and autonomous control. On p. 13, ABB Energy Industries discusses asset performance management using Industry 4.0 technology, and how this is the key to driving operational efficiencies. Read it to see how the ability to digitally visualise your pipeline asset can reap rewards (there’s also a compressor station case study to get your teeth into).
Rockwell Automation (p. 18) helps us to understand edge computing and how it can eliminate the scale and capacity constraints that arise from running a remote, decentralised pipeline network. The article explains how collecting and managing industrial data using edge devices will enable digital transformation across the pipeline sector.
Digitalisation, as described in these keynote articles, works to the benefit of many desirable outcomes, including increased safety, operational efficiencies, improved decision-making, and greater profitability. Digitalisation can also contribute to a lower carbon footprint, helping to reduce emissions across value chains and maintain the health of assets, thereby safeguarding environments.
In her article starting on p. 23, Vicki Knott from CruxOCM writes about the environmental impact of improving pipeline operations, with a focus on reducing latency in human processes, and advancing automation. An integrated supply chain, in which live data streams can unlock the true value of AI, could bring about real sustainable progress, argues Knott. She urges pipeline operators to pull the levers to achieve increased utilisation of pipeline networks, therefore reducing emissions per barrel.
The band Coldplay released its first sustainability report last year, outlining its efforts to address the sustainability issues that affect the band and its stakeholders, including fans, suppliers and venues. This type of reporting is not required by law, nor is it governed by set standards, so the band’s proactivity sets them apart as trailblazers. Coldplay uses digital technology such as kinetic dancefloors and electricity-generating bikes to power shows. Whilst digital tools can lead us to decarbonisation wins, they also produce their own carbon footprint. Season two of the Palladian Energy Podcast has focused on sustainability in oil and gas, and for a recent episode I spoke to Gareth Edwards from GoCodeGreen (an Earthshot Prize-nominated climate technology company). He talked about the importance of accurately measuring the carbon impact of digital products and services, to support action to reduce the footprint of software and the technology value chain. Edwards enlightened me about the impact of music streaming services: the most streamed song on Spotify in 2023 was Miley Cyrus’s ‘Flowers’ – sorry Coldplay – and the streaming activity “has an equivalent impact to 77 000 lb of carbon, about the same as 15 000 cars”.
Almost everything we do has an environmental impact, so we must analyse digital tools on the basis of operational and environmental wins and losses.
