Daehan Oil Pipeline Corp.’s Central Control Room in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. (image: Daehan Oil Pipeline Corp.)
SEOUL, May 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Daehan Oil Pipeline Corp. (DOPCO), operator of the oil storage, reported on Thursday that it will step up its surveillance to root out the theft of oil from pipelines.
To that end, DOPCO will make various efforts such as upgrading detection systems, expanding manpower monitoring systems, and strengthening cooperation with related agencies.
More specifically, the self-developed leakage detection system called “d-POLIS” can detect changes in the flow rate, pressure, temperature and weight of the pipeline, helping to catch criminals in the act.
Sensors installed in pipelines can detect fine changes, transmit information 24 hours a day, and find out where and how much oil has been stolen.
The new Pipe Damage Management System (PDMS) will detect the difference in current caused by the installation of a tapping device, which can be prevented in advance.
DOPCO will also introduce Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), a vibration detection system and a drone that detects and alerts authorities when someone with nefarious intentions approaches the pipeline.
The monitoring personnel will use a special device, a Pipeline Current Mapper (PCM), to check for damage on the surface of the pipeline, and a special patrol group will be operated on public holidays as well.
The monitoring personnel in the control room will monitor the pipeline in real-time through the central control system called Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) as well as via closed-circuit TV.
In addition, DOPCO will hold regular meetings with local police agencies, the Korea Petroleum Quality and Distribution Authority and the Korea Oil Station Association to share information on the oil theft.
Furthermore, DOPCO reported that it is also considering raising the current 100 million won (US$85,000) bounty for information on oil thefts.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
