Application of GIS to Oil and Gas Pipeline Management (A Case Study of South-South Nigeria)

Abstract

Over the years, the oil and gas industries have been engaging in traditional practices and procedures in their mode of operation in pipeline management. This has brought some draw backs in terms of planning and mapping of pipeline facilities. Several challenges in terms of natural disaster, equipment failure, and human error could not be averted because the traditional methods could not produce survey maps and plans required for “real time “applications. The advent of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in the oil and gas industries has brought about rapid changes and improvements in the activities of the oil and gas industries in terms of exploration, production and transmission of products from the field to the end users. In this research, digital maps showing oil and gas pipelines as well as other relevant features such as terrain, vegetation and settlements within the study area were generated. A relational database model was developed using pipeline attributes such as; the pipeline diameter, date of installation, pressure, coating and soil type. Queries on the database provided the required information such as; the required date of maintenance of pipes, areas prone to sabotage, areas with specific pipe diameters in various sections, previous spillages and the affected areas.