Invensys Operations Management Intros Pipeline Management Solutions

Invensys Operations Management, a division of Invensys plc, and a provider of automation and information technology, systems, software solutions and services, launched a new pipeline Control Room Management solution for 49 CFR 195 Compliance.

The newly launched solution is said to facilitate compliance with 49 CFR part 195.446 and 49 CFR part 192.631, the new U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation for companies that operate pipelines carrying hazardous liquids and gases.

Also, it is said to combine open software and services to integrate SCADA information, workflow, alarm handling, training and other aspects of pipeline operations to help owners develop 49 CFR compliance procedures.

DOT wants pipeline operators define 49 CFR 195 Compliance procedures by August of 2011 and implement them by February of 2013.

The regulation issued by DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is to protect people and the environment from the risks inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials. PHMSA requires companies to implement and document measures that reduce risk associated with controller fatigue; precisely define roles and responsibilities of control room staff; and provide information, training and processes necessary to help fulfill these responsibilities.

“With these regulations, the DOT has emphatically acknowledged the importance of reliable information systems and attention to human factors in improving pipeline safety,” Mark Grant, SCADA applications specialist for Invensys Operations Management said in a statement.

“Invensys Operations Management is the only automation provider that embeds into a single HMI and engineering platform all the technology necessary to meet the requirements of 49 CFR 195.446 and 192.631. Our advanced products, interfaces, integration capabilities and open technology enable prompt detection and appropriate response to abnormal conditions and emergencies, helping users achieve safety and environmental excellence,” Grant added.

The new regulations call for specific improvements in the control room and change management, including compliance with American Petroleum Institute’s API 1165 and API 1168 best practices for control room management. They specify improvements in SCADA HMI, pipeline alarm management, business process management (BPM), field operator workflow, pipeline operator training, shift handover, documentation and auditing. The Invensys solution is said to address all of these areas.