Real-Time Effective Monitoring and Control in Oil and Gas Industry Using SCADA Technology as a Management Tool

Abstract

Pipeline leakage detection, if not addressed swiftly/promptly, could result to loss of lives and properties. Researches have shown that the best means of curbing or drastically minimizing these losses is through real time monitoring using DCS and CAO-SCADA Technology as the management tool. This tool was adopted in this work and then applied to a particular oil and gas terminal in Nigeria. Research questions were generated and data obtained as well as the research instrument used were validated. A total of one hundred and thirty-five respondents were used for the study. From the formulated testing based on z-test, three hypotheses were investigated termed as HO1, HO2 and HO3. HO1 test hypothesis of pipeline failure as a result of leakages along it and if the leakage detection is because there is no DSC, CAO-SCADA management tool along the pipeline. The result obtained showed that z-calculated is less than the critical value of 1.96 with a significant level of 0.05. From the results obtained, the hypothesis HO1 is accepted, thus failure of this pipeline is because the DSO, CAO-SCADA is not present in the system. HO2 testing determined if there exists any difference significantly between the DSC and CAO-SCADA system. From the result, the z-calculated which is 0.0065 is less than the critical value which is 1. This implies that the null hypothesis (HO2) is accepted. Meaning that there is no significant difference between CAO-SCADA and the DCO for the effective management and monitoring and safety operations in the pipeline. The last hypothesis is to test if there exists significant difference between DCS and CAO-SCADA system for effective industrial system control of leakages in pipeline. Out of the 135(100%) respondents, 106(78.52%) agreed with the recommendations made by the researchers while 12.59% partially agreed. 4(5.18%) have a clear understanding and 5(0.0370%) are indifferent about the recommendations made.