OSPREY®
Remote Gas Pressure Monitoring System
Welcome to the Next Tech Generation
Everything You Need From a Remote Gas Pressure Monitoring System
Gas utilities need to understand the dynamics of gas distribution through their pipeline network from the intermediate pressure entry point at the district governor (regulator) to the low pressure connections to domestic/industrial consumers. Each gas distribution network operator must carry out regular pressure checks along the distribution network, be it manually or with the aid of a Gas Pressure Monitoring System. Measurement of the pressure of gas at different points in the network therefore provides critical information.
Operationally, pressure is the most important parameter in gas distribution. A minimum pressure (typically 21 mbar in the UK or 7” water column in the US) needs to be delivered to the consumer. If this is not met, there is a risk that gas supply can be lost and/or domestic appliances fail. The consequent disconnection and reconnection process is costly and disruptive – and is always bad for customer relations.
If complaints associated with pressure are received, it is important that these are investigated and resolved rapidly, as any delay increases the risk of problems occurring and also risks losing gas through escapes (“shrinkage”).
By contrast, if gas pressure is too high, it can create leaks in the system that have to be systematically tracked down and fixed. In addition to the obvious safety concerns, natural gas is a greenhouse gas and, when released to the atmosphere without first being combusted, has a 25 times more potent global warming potential than CO2. So it is very important for the environment to keep as much gas inside the pipe network as possible.
Introducing OSPREY® Gas Pressure Monitoring
Abriox has introduced a radically new way to collect and manage gas distribution pressure data. OSPREY completely eliminates manual data collection of pressure data, saving time and money. It also massively improves the quality of pressure data - leading to gas production savings, improved gas network efficiency and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through leakage.
OSPREY is a fully automatic system comprising:
OSPREY Remote Pressure Monitors (also known as Remote Monitoring Units - RMUs or Data Loggers) can be used for:
View the OSPREY Range
OSPREY monitors gas distribution pressure with monitors available for 0 - 1450psi. PressureTrac® is Abriox’s software for configuring OSPREY monitors in the field and for displaying pressure data; it can be seamlessly integrated with network operators’ in-house pressure management systems.
Benefits
The ability to view system pressures dynamically has immense potential for improving network management, responding to network incidents and feeding directly into average system pressure calculations.
OSPREY gas pressure monitoring system reduces operating costs by improving our customers’ operational efficiency. And even a small reduction in shrinkage through improved pressure management and/or faster resolution of pressure incidents will generate a massive payback on the cost of deployment. Some of the immediate benefits OSPREY provides include:
OSPREY IS THE COMPLETE SOLUTION FOR 24/7 REMOTE PRESSURE MANAGEMENT
A completely wireless remote gas pressure monitoring and management system for the gas and petrochemical industries. Offering unrivalled performance, making our customers safer and more efficient. Reducing costs and environmental impact!
Innovative Design
Abriox’s key technical innovation was an on-board GPS module. The geo-positioning benefits of GPS are well known - automatically assigning data to the correct location and ensuring that a logger can always be found and retrieved. Less well known is the highly accurate timing GPS provides, so that each datum is precisely time-stamped. This combination of “time and space” eliminates the need for manual correction, allowing field data to be entered directly into the validation model.
Using this innovative approach, Abriox has been able to:
Everything You Need From a Remote Gas Pressure Monitoring System
OSPREY has major economic, operational, safety and environmental benefits and has been installed on every continent, providing significant cost savings and making our customers’ operations more efficient.
Measurements
For single pressure measurements including validation and poor pressure investigation, the OSPREY can monitor pressure between 0 - 1450psi.
For multiple pressure measurements, including governor feed and MP/IP maintenance operations, the bolt-on MCA (Multi Channel Adapter) adds an additional 2 channels and can monitor pressure between 0 - 1450psi.
OSPREY can be configured to take readings and log data at pre-set intervals – which will determine the overall battery lifetime. As a typical example, the OSPREY memory can store over 10 years of data at 6 second reads and 6 minute logging. The read and log rates are completely configurable and can be easily changed via the PressureTrac software.
Communications
OSPREY monitors use GPRS to report data from the field to a central HQ. SMS communication enables OSPREY monitors to be set up in the field using a cell/mobile phone. OSPREY monitors can be supplied with separate cellular and GPS antennas (most applicable to meter box installations) or a combined patch antenna where the OSPREY is installed in a metal enclosure.
This method has several advantages:
The OSPREY system is independent of network provider. We usually supply our monitors with a roaming SIM to ensure that the strongest network is always selected automatically. This also speeds up installation and reduces inventory (no need to have “spare” monitors fitted with alternative network SIM cards). However, we can also factory fit free-issued SIMs or supply monitors for users to fit their own SIMs.
Incident Evaluation Mode
Gas networks have a duty to respond to reports of low gas pressure, the cause of which must be investigated, determined and resolved. The quicker this is done, the more satisfied the consumer will be with the service provided and, in the case of a leak, the less gas will be lost. There is an obvious health and safety incentive to resolve such issues as soon as practicable.
There are numerous potential causes for low or fluctuating pressure including pipework design, environmental effects such as freezing temperatures or water ingress, increased demand elsewhere in the network, regulator failure, etc. In cases where the cause of poor pressure is not evident, monitoring the gas supply to the affected and surrounding premises can provide essential information, enabling the results of investigative and remedial work to be confirmed immediately.
Abriox has therefore designed into OSPREY a unique Incident Evaluation Mode (IEM™). Once configured in IEM, the OSPREY automatically transmits all pressure data to its software HQ every 12 hours, so that fluctuations can be remotely monitored and compared at one or more locations.
Compared to the old manual system of data logging over a 1-2 week period, downloading the data and then analyzing it after the event, OSPREY provides a real-time, dynamic picture of the investigation. This typically enables incidents to be cleared up in hours and days, rather than in weeks!
Investigate Pressure Fluctuations
Compared to the old manual system of data logging over a 1-2 week period, downloading the data and then analyzing it after the event, OSPREY provides a real-time, dynamic picture of the investigation. This typically enables incidents to be cleared up in hours and days, rather than in weeks!
Shrinkage
A large gas network typically deals with thousands of gas escapes per year. The ISO 14001 international standard of environmental excellence has a rigorous approach to environmental management. Gas networks accredited to this standard will continuously benchmark their environmental performance with the aim of reducing natural gas emissions (“shrinkage”) from their activities and assets.
Nationally hundreds of millions of £/$ are spent on maintenance and shrinkage annually. With a more accurate recording system and data stream, there is the potential for financial savings to be made through more effective pressure management.
The OSPREY gas pressure monitoring system offers the opportunity to reduce costs associated with maintenance and shrinkage. Even a very small reduction in either area will generate a massive payback on the capital cost of the system.
Working in the Field
PressureLink is a communications interface for use with the OSPREY range of pressure monitors. It acts as an intrinsically safe barrier between the OSPREY and un-assessed equipment, such as a laptop PC.
PressureLink allows calibration, maintenance and data download from OSPREYs in the field. This provides technicians the ability to carry out required work without having to completely remove the OSPREY and send back to the service team, saving time, costs and helping improve your carbon footprint.
Once downloaded to a laptop, the data may be imported into the PressureTrac software for evaluation.
Gas Pressure Compliance - It's Never Been Easier
A radically new way to comply with natural gas pressure regulation. Meet Federal Regulation 49 Part 192.741(a) (monitor pressures in multi-feed gas networks). Ensure all customers are provided with statutory pressures. Ensure correct operation of your pressure regulators. Reduce the costs of compliance! Improve the efficiency of your gas network!
Powerful Software. Say Hello to PressureTrac!
Pure Innovation
PressureTrac® is a dedicated web-based pressure management software system for displaying, recording and exporting pressure data from the range of OSPREY® Pressure and Control Monitors. It also provides full remote configuration of all OSPREY monitors directly. Data is displayed both graphically and tabulated for quick and easy viewing, along with accurate GPS positioning of all devices in the field.
PressureTrac enables OSPREY monitors to be configured remotely. Device settings can be altered, providing full control and allowing changes dependent on the current environmental conditions. These include logging intervals, reporting times and alert thresholds. Alert conditions are automatically reported to users via SMS and/or email.
Hosted by Abriox
This is a web based version of the software, with the database specific to each customer. Ongoing costs are dependent on the size of the OSPREY fleet. Limited to 1000 units.
Hosted by the User
The software has been designed to be installed on an in-house server, so that users have full control over their own data. There is no limit to the number of OSPREYs and no ongoing hosting costs.
User access levels are allocated via the system software to ensure that the appropriate features are available only to authorised personnel.
PressureTrac is designed and distributed uniquely by Abriox. Software updates are made freely available during the warranty (or service contract) period. PressureTrac has been developed to be compatible with most modern browsers. We recommend you use the latest version of your chosen browser.
View the OSPREY Range
OSPREY monitors gas distribution pressure with monitors available for 0 - 1450psi. PressureTrac® is Abriox’s software for configuring OSPREY monitors in the field and for displaying pressure data; it can be seamlessly integrated with network operators’ in-house pressure management systems.