Security systems can identify risk, not just threats

Managing disparate systems leads to inefficiency; it takes more time, manpower and money. Perhaps more importantly, this approach also has limited potential in terms of maximising the wealth of data available. You will only ever get an isolated view of events. This leaves a scope for threats to go unnoticed or inadequate responses to incidents.

By Darren Adler, Synetics August 3, 2016

Safety and security for remote oil and gas locations are important; in volatile regions around the world, such systems are critical. Synectics has been selected to develop and supply end-to-end surveillance solutions for two major North African oil and gas projects.

The company said in a press release, "The contracts are to deliver integrated command and control solutions for two onshore oil and gas installations of considerable economic and industrial importance to the region." More than 500 cameras will be deployed as part of the project.

OGE: In the region where these security systems are located, are the threats greater from external sources than operational issues? And can you be more specific about what part of Africa we’re talking about here?

Adler: There is no denying that in this location, North Africa, external threats to oil and gas assets are very real. The region is experiencing instability and volatility, with war in Libya, insurgency in Niger, unrest in Egypt and various terrorist attacks.

However, operational threats remain the most likely cause of disruption to critical assets. Technology malfunctions, human error, equipment degradation, process inaccuracy; while threats such as these are not headline grabbers they can jeopardize operational efficiency and personnel safety.

It is why surveillance solutions have to be capable of detecting and mitigating a broad range of risks.

OGE: In general, how aware are oil and gas project managers about the need for visual security of their whole operation? What should they be aware of?

Adler: Oil and gas managers are very aware of the need for visual security for their whole operation. What they are less aware of are the benefits of integrating video feeds with other site sub-systems to gain that overarching view and wider situational awareness.

Managing disparate systems leads to inefficiency; it takes more time, manpower and money. Perhaps more importantly, this approach also has limited potential in terms of maximising the wealth of data available. You will only ever get an isolated view of events. This leaves a scope for threats to go unnoticed or inadequate responses to incidents.

Bringing these systems together through an integrated surveillance command and control solution enables all events to be monitored and managed via a single platform and provide more comprehensive context and understanding. The potential is significantly greater in terms of recognizing and responding to threats.

OGE: What are the advantages and the challenges of installing and operating such a system?

Adler: The key advantage of an open protocol surveillance command and control platform is that it enables integration of a wide range of systems used to monitor and protect the asset. Video (analogue, digital and thermal camera stations), intruder alarms, fire and gas detection, access control, critical asset tracking and site management systems can be integrated, monitored and managed within a single, unified environment. Integration of this kind allows operators to achieve a 360-degree view of data and events — events that in isolation don’t necessarily indicate threat but when combined are cause for concern.

For example, the recording of a staff ID card being swiped by someone who is not meant to be on shift until later in the day, coupled with a ‘left item’ alert (detected using loitering analytics) in isolation may cause concern or investigation but do not signal imminent threat. However, when this data is considered collectively, it could be indicative of something more sinister, warranting a more rapid response and higher state of alert.

Open architecture systems are also ideal for sites where legacy hardware is already installed. Rather than ripping out and replacing an entire system, analogue and in-situ hardware can be integrated with new technology. This approach ensures an intelligently designed solution, which fits the site’s requirements, allows for expansion and futureproofs the system as technology evolves.

OGE: Besides traditional security issues, you also referenced environmental issues. Talk about why oil and gas project managers should be more aware of the environment when looking at security.

Adler: The rapid identification and verification of alarms concerning leaks or emissions is imperative — especially when the repercussions can be so significant, both environmentally and financially. Again, the key here is accessing and understanding all the data available in the quickest, simplest format possible.

By combining data sets from multiple site systems, an intelligently integrated surveillance solution will drastically reduce detection and reaction responses.

Fluctuations in operating performance (e.g. noise, temperature etc.) can be monitored via the command and control platform. When an alert indicating a change in status is triggered, video (colour, mono and thermal) from the cameras nearest to the identified fluctuation is immediately displayed on the operator monitor or display wall. This facilitates swift identification and response (if required) — and can be used for pre-emptive maintenance that prevents potential issues from becoming actual problems e.g. a hot spot identified by a thermal camera on a pipe can be fixed before it becomes a leak.

Thermal cameras may also be used to monitor the relative temperature of equipment and generate an alarm if the temperature changes beyond predetermined limits.

Increasingly, upstream operators are turning to intelligently integrated surveillance solutions to provide clear audit trails that demonstrate actions and operations fully meet specified standards — particularly relating to the environment — waste gas emission from flare stacks is one example. When monitoring flares, thermal cameras can be used to measure the difference in ‘thermal signature’ between the flare and the surrounding environment.

Footage can be overlaid with that from daylight cameras to help detect smoke or poor flame colour, indicating an un-optimised stoichiometric mixture.

As with any other threat detection scenario, integrating footage through a command and control platform can generate work-flow processes, leading to safe and quick response from crew and other parties.

-Darren Adler, engineering director for Synetics, discusses the important of such security deployments, and how they can help monitor safety and security systems. 

Original content can be found at Oil and Gas Engineering.