November 2005, USAÑ  NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD releases Safety Study on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in Liquid Pipeline NTSB/SS-05/02

Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusions
 

1. Most hazardous liquid pipeline operators use SCADA systems to monitor and control their pipelines.
2. Operators reported that SCADA systems enhance both the safety and efficiency of pipeline operations.
3. Implementation of graphical standards developed for pipeline operations will increase the likelihood that leaks will be detected quickly and that resulting damage from the leaks will be minimized.
4. An effective alarm review/audit system will increase the likelihood of controllers appropriately responding to alarms associated with pipeline leaks.
5. Requiring controllers to train for leak detection tasks using simulators or non-computerized simulations will improve the probability of controllers finding and mitigating pipeline leaks.
6. Because the report form used by the Office of Pipeline Safety for companies to report liquid pipeline accidents (PHMSA F 7000-1) does not require operators to provide information about fatigue, such as controller work schedules, it is not possible to empirically determine the contribution of fatigue to pipeline accidents using the Office of Pipeline Safety accident database.
7. Ensuring constant monitoring of an entire pipeline using a computer-based leak detection technology would enhance the controller's ability to detect large spills, increase the likelihood of spill detection, and reduce the response time to large spills.

Recommendations

As a result of this safety study, the National Transportation Safety Board makes the following safety recommendations to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration:

1. Require operators of hazardous liquid pipelines to follow the American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice 1165 for the use of graphics on the SCADA screens.
2. Require pipeline companies to have a policy for the review/audit of alarms.
3. Require controller training to include simulator or non-computerized simulations for controller recognition of abnormal operating conditions, in particular, leak events.
4. Change the liquid accident reporting form (PHMSA F 7000-1) and require operators to provide data related to controller fatigue.
5. Require operators to install computer-based leak detection systems on all lines unless engineering analysis determines that such a system is not necessary.