| 04 June 2011
Vigilance can confirm that QinetiQ’s OptaSense technology has been chosen as the security system for the 670km Mangala Development Pipeline (“MDP”) in India. In the contract which was awarded by Cairn India and ONGC Joint Venture through QinetiQ’s distribution partner, Optilan, following successful field trials last year, QinetiQ’s OptaSense system it is said, will be installed along the entire length of the pipeline and will be used to provide security.
Vigilance learnt the OptaSense system is designed to detect, classify and locate potential threats to buried pipelines. Mr H P Bhalla, Director - Midstream of Cairn India said: “Pipeline integrity and safety are of prime importance to us and we believe the addition of OptaSense technology will help us prevent incidents to our new pipeline. We believe the OptaSense® system to be a cost effective way of monitoring the security of our pipeline.”
It is said the Mangala Development Pipeline (MDP) operated by Cairn India is the world’s longest continuously heated and insulated pipeline and will have access to 75% of India’s refining capacity when it reaches Bhogat in Gujarat. The MDP originates from Mangala Processing Terminal in Barmer, Rajasthan and passes through eight districts in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat before it reaches its end point at the coastal location of Bhogat near Jamnagar on the western coast line of India.
Magnus McEwen-King, Managing Director QinetiQ OptaSense said: “This new contract with Cairn India will extend our reach into India and coincides with a major upgrade of the system functionality. The contract builds on our existing security and monitoring solutions for other linear assets principally in the oil and gas industry. We look forward to providing valuable security and monitoring information to protect this important pipeline.”
QinetiQ's OptaSense system will be installed into existing pipeline block valve stations and will utilise the existing communications cable installed adjacent to the pipeline. The installation and commissioning of the project will be carried out by Optilan. Bal Kler Sales Director for Optilan said: “We are excited to be introducing this technology to the MDP project and India.”
The contract with Cairn India follows a contract with BP to install the OptaSense system on the 1,770 km Turkey section of the BTC pipeline. OptaSense is part of a global technology products portfolio and demonstrates our approach to delivering the full potential of emerging products to existing and new customers.