Tetra Tech Digital Systems modernized electric pipeline pump controls to increase crude transport capacity, strengthen safety and compliance, and improve operational reliability.
A mid-sized oil and gas producer needed to modernize an electric pipeline pump system that moves crude oil from three offshore platforms to an onshore terminal on the U.S. West Coast. The system needed to support safer, more efficient transport while meeting federal requirements and accommodating future production demand. As key equipment approached end of service life, the producer sought updated controls, speed control, instrumentation, and a design that could support consistent operations and future adaptability.
We provided engineering and systems integration services, beginning with an assessment of the system’s design, power requirements, controls, safety protocols, regulatory obligations, scalability, and future adaptability. Our team designed and implemented a modernized electric pipeline pump system, replacing programmable logic controllers (PLC) with current-generation controllers suited to complex automation tasks, installing variable frequency drives (VFD) to provide speed control, and upgrading field instrumentation to improve process monitoring and control.
The upgraded system increased transport capacity to 13,000 barrels per day, improving the producer’s ability to accommodate higher demand. The VFDs and improved controls reduced energy consumption, while updated equipment reduced breakdowns and supported more reliable crude transport. Enhanced monitoring and automation improved daily operations and enabled a more proactive maintenance approach. From May 2022 through May 2023, the project recorded zero offshore accidents and no equipment damage.
Benefits
- Increased transport capacity to 13,000 barrels per day
- Reduced energy consumption and equipment breakdowns
- Improved monitoring and proactive maintenance capabilities