Actioning Big CP Data

Managing & Improving Today’s Cathodic Protection Remote Monitoring

Cathodic protection parameters were once measured only by field technician teams manually covering miles of pipeline with portable instruments to acquire data points. Measurements were handwritten in logbooks and transported back to the pipeline operator’s office for analysis and storage. Measurements occurred infrequently so seasonal operational fluctuations and fast-changing and powerful adverse influences such as induced AC were impossible to mitigate. Illegible logbooks, human error, differences in procedural interpretations and errors from the instrument display also reduced data quality. The format also wasn’t conducive to in-depth analysis, so this important data was being under utilized at best.

Fast forward to today with wide adoption of remote monitoring on cathodic protection systems within a range of applications, connected to global communication networks and the ability to capture numerous data points anywhere at anytime. Although more data is captured and the quality has dramatically improved, much of the collected data still remains “dark” – stored away in databases – and only used for reference when specific needs arise. However, there are new methods and tools available to begin utilizing big data analytics and powerful AI which empowers pipeline operators to not only more effectively extend the operational life of mission-critical assets, but also maximize safety while employing significant cost-saving measures.

Big Data Analytics

Remote monitoring devices provide consistent measurement procedures and allow for control of field hardware states. Using today’s high-tech tools and processes, measurements are taken at a much higher frequency than ever before, and the cost to do so is significantly less than prior manual reading methods. As utilities add more of these IoT devices to their networks however, we hear more and more from our clients about the same issues that Big Data causes in all industries; the management of the data and the reality of ‘data overload’. Some of the issues we hear from our clients are around ‘false positive’ alerts, as well as understanding which alerts need to be actioned immediately versus those that can be watched over a period of time. The reality is that to provide the full value that data can provide requires advances in the methods that are being used to automate the screening and analysis so that the processes can be simplified for the end users. As with any industry, the analysis of cathodic protection data is very specific to the industry, and developing algorithms requires deep industry knowledge.

Fortunately, dramatic improvements in technology and communication systems can now ensure data accuracy and reliability. In addition, the use of standard methodologies for big data analytics used in other applications mean that large sets of data can be combined and analyzed like never before to identify trends and to proactively spot indicators and prevent failures before they occur.

Managing the Challenges of Big Data

Having access to seemingly unlimited data is a phenomenal tool in cathodic protection across all applications. With this comes the challenge of a developing a strategic data methodology. According to a 2019 Experian industry report, many progressive organizations often have data management strategies in place but continue to struggle with utilization. For big data analytics to accurately drive decisions about cathodic protection and pipeline integrity, data quality strategies must exist, and also be evaluated and action plans executed.

Maintaining traceable, verifiable and accurate data points, regular data quality auditing, tracking and validation of data origination, as well as ample training in all aspects of data management and reporting are critical when it comes to preserving and improving the data generated by remote monitoring devices. In addition, standardizing data naming conventions can aid in data searches and reporting, keeping important data points from disappearing into the dark void of a big database. With carefully planned strategies and the right tools, big data can be successfully managed and drive business decisions in the world of cathodic protection monitoring. One of the challenges in beginning to use machine learning algorithms in many industries is obtaining large enough data sets to train the algorithms. In the case of cathodic protection, the good news is that we often have very large data sets taken over many years that can be reviewed in conjunction with other data to provide value very quickly for our customers. The ability to be able to combine learnings from different customers operating pipelines in differing conditions provides the opportunity to make rapid progress in data analytics that will benefit the industry as a whole.

The MOBILTEX CorView platform for remote CP system management is completely cloud-based and constantly advancing to address the evolving needs of pipeline integrity teams in order to effectively manage their assets and gain valuable insights into their data.

In future articles, I’ll continue to expand on each of the trends that I covered in the previous article “The CP [ Cathodic Protection ] IIoT Evolution : New Challenges Are Overcome With Technology That Is More Advanced — And Now More Accessible”. My goal is to continue to share with you MOBILTEX insights on a wide range of applications and best practices.

I’d also like to invite you to register for our upcoming webinar with Materials Performance magazine (it will be available on-demand as well) presented in collaboration with Dairyland Electrical Industries where we will outline how recent advances with our remote monitoring and data collection platform can help operators leverage data more effectively, optimize their mitigation strategies, and ensure that critical OPEX dollars are allocated in the most efficient manner possible — Developing a Leading Technology Strategy to Mitigate AC Interference