GASCO has extensive experience in the field of cathodic protection. After comprehensive research, Egyptian natural gas company has commissioned PR electronics to assist in preventing corrosion issues in the natural gas pipeline network throughout Egypt.
Regarding GASCO
GASCO, established in 1997, is responsible for managing Egypt's national natural gas pipeline network and related facilities. GASCO is engaged in the transportation, distribution, supply, and processing of natural gas. In November 2023, the company's business will expand to the production, transportation, and export of hydrogen, as well as the separation and transportation of carbon dioxide.
Protecting critical pipeline infrastructure is crucial for GASCO as pipelines are susceptible to corrosion, which can lead to leaks, environmental hazards, and significant economic losses over time. However, corrosion prevention and control face challenges: pipelines are mostly buried and underwater metal structures, which are difficult to access and detect.
GASCO is continuously improving its facility protection system through ongoing research and development
GASCO has previously installed facility protection systems for its natural gas pipeline network, but maintenance requires monthly manual monitoring of pipeline voltage to perform preventive maintenance and ensure effective operation of the protection system.
It is obvious that conducting 12 manual voltage readings along the gas pipeline every year is both time-consuming and labor-intensive. In addition, the rectifier may malfunction the day after the detection is completed, which poses a potential safety hazard. If a malfunction occurs, it will take up to one month to wait before testing can be carried out again, delaying the opportunity for repair.
Therefore, GASCO needs a more advanced system to achieve continuous monitoring and timely response, ensuring the safety of the pipeline network.
GASCO is seeking a solution to monitor pipeline cathodic protection voltage in existing SCADA systems. After completing the project design and engineering planning, GASCO began to search for suitable materials and suppliers to address the challenges. During this process, they discovered PR Electronics, a company specializing in signal conditioning equipment. PR Electronics has local distributors in Egypt and the two parties have collaborated to conduct a concept validation. After transmitter testing, GASCO prepared the bidding documents for the project site.
Automated reading and monitoring have completely replaced heavy manual operations
After installing approximately 120 PR electronics 4114 signal conditioners as universal transmitters, GASCO was able to monitor the cathodic protection status in real-time; Operators can respond promptly, implement preventive maintenance, and more effectively ensure pipeline integrity.
What makes PR 4114 an ideal choice for addressing GASCO challenges?
The PR 4114 universal transmitter is a high-performance, flexible, and sustainable solution. By continuously measuring key data points, you can obtain the best starting point for conducting preventive maintenance and making informed business decisions. Specifically, PR 4114:
Having extremely high input impedance ensures that the measurement circuit has no load.
Convert and isolate signals to accurately monitor voltage.
Having high precision and fast response time is crucial for real-time adjustment of ICCP rectifier output.
Supports 4-20 mA output and Modbus communication (via PR 4511 Modbus communication module), achieving seamless integration with existing SCADA systems.
The PR 4114 signal conditioner is an ideal choice due to its extremely high input impedance (over 10 M Ω), which is crucial for accurately measuring cathodic protection voltage in Egyptian natural gas pipelines.
High input impedance is crucial as it can minimize the current drawn from the Cu/CuSO ₄ permanent reference electrode, ideally almost zero. Reducing current consumption is crucial for extending electrode lifespan and preventing polarization and damage.
On the contrary, when the input impedance is low, it may draw current from the tested circuit, causing risks.
Excellent support becomes a key factor in the final decision
In the early stages of project concept validation, GASCO had many questions about input impedance, which was particularly critical in their new application of natural gas networks. Due to PR electronics' willingness to patiently answer all questions, GASCO has decided to promote the debugging of PR signal conditioning equipment.
Thanks to the close collaboration between GASCO and PR electronics, GASCO has found reliable partners who can provide the necessary support
At GASCO, we have successfully integrated PR electronics solutions such as PR 4114 and PR 4179 universal transmitters into a SCADA based pipeline cathodic protection system remote monitoring project. These products demonstrate excellent reliability, high precision, and seamless integration with our SCADA platform.
The PR module provides critical real-time data, improves operational efficiency, accelerates fault response speed, and greatly enhances pipeline safety and integrity. ”
Ahmed Hussein, Senior Instrument and Maintenance Planning Engineer at GASCO
