In this month’s edition of the Pipeline & Gas Journal, you might find a familiar name in the magazine. I was privileged to be asked to write about real-time views in metering and measurement to help pipeline operators solve a problem.
What is the problem? Many operators are looking at the data they are collecting in their SCADA system and wanting to perform data analytics, but they are not sure how to line up the data for decision-making purposes.
The answer is real-time views to create meaning and context for the data.
How Does a Real-Time View Create Meaning and Context?
Each stakeholder in your operation is looking at the data differently. Therefore, they need the data contextualized for their role. If the data is not contextualized, they are merely looking at numbers without understanding the meaning behind the numbers.
“When everyone in your operation has the data properly contextualized for their role, there is a significant impact on each person’s ability to determine what actions are required. When the data is contextualized in real-time, decisions can be made now versus reactively making decisions after events have passed.”
Taking the proper steps to contextualize the data in your operation will allow you to use data analytics to perform calculations and develop algorithms. This process will help your team take proper action in critical events such as a meter freeze.
When you see a meter freeze alarm, you need to be able to use data collected about the meter condition to calculate when a hydrate will form. Your best method to achieve accuracy is by following a process for real-time views to utilize data analytics.
Follow a Process to Use Data Analytics Effectively
Each pipeline operation should develop a process to use data analytics effectively. This is a recommended outline of steps:
- Collect the data in your SCADA system
- Normalize the data in your structure
- Find meaning and context using real-time views
- Perform manual analytics
- Use an algorithm to identify abnormal conditions
- Create a procedure to address abnormal conditions
Following this process will also enable you to analyze measurements in real-time. If you are only seeing the data from a meter freeze at the end of the month, then you are missing an opportunity to react to the meter freeze in real-time.
However, when you are set up to identify a meter freeze the moment it happens, then your team can clear the freeze, minimizing measurement error and simplifying the end-of-month closing process.
Use This Software Tool to Achieve Real-Time Views
The underlying reason why you should utilize real-time views in metering and measurement is to achieve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and save time.
EnerSys is committed to helping operators achieve these goals through a software tool that allows operators to obtain real-time data, view the data in your system, and take appropriate action.
The EnerSys IOC (Intelligent Operator Console) for Measurement simplifies the process to provide accurate and timely data. Within the software tool, there are multiple views for each stakeholder so they can understand the context and meaning of the data.
We would appreciate the opportunity to schedule a demo of the IOC for Measurement. To schedule your no-obligation demo that will take about 10-15 minutes of your time, please complete our contact form, email our team at sales@enersyscorp.com, or call us directly at 281-598-7100.
Additionally, be sure to read my full article on real-time views in metering and measurement in the July edition of Pipeline & Gas Journal. Please contact me directly with your feedback or comments on the article.