System to facilitate pipeline management, software, and related methods

• US 20050038825A1
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Al-Mejna, Abdulaziz K., Tarabzouni, Thamer K., Wood, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99956 File allocation

Abstract

A system for facilitating pipeline management, software, and methods are provided. The system includes a pipeline company computer positioned at a pipeline company site to define a pipeline company server, having a processor, memory coupled to the processor to store software and database records therein, a graphical display coupled to the processor for displaying graphical images and a user interface coupled to the processor to provide a user access to manipulate the software and database records, and pipeline information management analyzing software to analyze pipeline management requirements. The system also includes an area network in communication with the server, a remote user computer in communication with the area network, positioned remote from the server at remote site, and positioned to access the pipeline information management analyzing software, and a portable user computer adapted to interface with the area network to access the pipeline information management analyzing software to provide the field user access to the server database.

Claims

1. A pipeline management system to facilitate pipeline management, the system comprising:

a first pipeline company computer positioned at a pipeline company site to define a pipeline company server and having a processor, memory coupled to the processor to store software and database records therein, a graphical display coupled to the processor for displaying graphical images, and a user interface coupled to the processor to provide a user access to manipulate the software and database records;

a database stored in the memory of the pipeline company server and having a plurality of map segments each comprising at least one of a map, a processed satellite image, and an aerial photograph, a plurality of pipeline equipment records including at least one of engineering data, drawings, and location data of pipeline equipment, and a plurality of pipeline management records including pipeline equipment management data and a plurality of personnel data records; and

pipeline information management analyzing software stored in memory of the server to analyze pipeline management requirements, the pipeline information management analyzing software including;

a pipeline management identifier positioned to tag a pipeline management record in the database with a pipeline management record identifier,

a pipeline management analyzer positioned to retrieve the pipeline management record by the pipeline management record identifier from the database and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display the pipeline management record to the user to thereby assist the user in planning and execution of management actions on the user selected pipeline equipment,

a pipeline equipment identifier positioned to tag a pipeline equipment record in the database with a pipeline equipment record identifier, and

a pipeline emergency response analyzer to analyze a pipeline rupture, the pipeline emergency response analyzer including;

a pipeline valve location locator positioned to retrieve a plurality of pipeline equipment records having pipeline valve location data by their respective pipeline equipment record identifier from the database and responsive to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface and representing a location of the pipeline rupture to identify at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from the location of the pipeline rupture, and

a pipeline segment volume calculator responsive to the pipeline valve location locator determined identity of the at least one immediate upstream valve and the at least one downstream valve and positioned to calculate an amount of pipeline segment volume inventory between the at least one upstream valve and the at least one downstream valve to thereby determine potential lost inventory from the pipeline rupture,

a critical engineering data and drawings analyzer positioned to retrieve a pipeline equipment record containing critical engineering data and drawings from the database and responsive to the user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display critical engineering data and drawings for the user selected pipeline equipment,

a pipeline equipment distance calculator positioned to retrieve a pipeline equipment record containing pipeline equipment location data from the database and responsive to the user selecting a pipeline equipment through the user interface to display distance measurements of the selected pipeline equipment from a pipeline reference point to determine travel time required to reach a destination work area, and

an assigned personnel determiner positioned to retrieve a personnel data record containing pipeline equipment assignment information from the database and responsive to the user selecting at least one of a pipeline equipment and a pipeline operational area through the user interface to display contact personnel assigned primary responsibility for the user selected at least one of a pipeline equipment and a pipeline operational area.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one immediate upstream valve and the at least immediate downstream valve identified by the pipeline valve location locator includes at least one of an in-line valve and a non-in-line valve.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the pipeline emergency response analyzer of the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes:

a rupture exposure radius determiner positioned to retrieve at least one map segment and at least one pipeline equipment record from the database and responsive to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface representing a location of the pipeline rupture to identify a rupture exposure radius coverage area of a pipeline and to provide summary information about pipeline equipment within the rupture exposure radius coverage area.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes:

a graphics generator positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of map segments from the database and at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records from the database and responsive to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface to display a graphical representation of the at least one of the plurality of map segments and the at least one pipeline equipment on the graphical display; and

wherein

the geographic reference point supplied by the user through the user interface and utilized by the graphics generator is supplied through use of at least one of a geographic map coordinate entered in a text box of the graphical display and a user selectable hyperlink attached to a pipeline equipment and displayed on the at least one of the plurality of map segments from the database.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the database further includes a plurality of pipeline incident report records wherein a pipeline incident report record is entered by a user through the user interface to be stored in the database, and wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a pipeline emergency incident location displayer positioned to retrieve a pipeline incident report record from the database and responsive to a user request through the user interface to display at least one incident location and responsive to a user selecting at least one incident location to display an incident report record for at least one displayed incident location selected by the user.

6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises:

a pipeline equipment analyzer responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display pipeline equipment inspection, operation, and maintenance data stored in at least one of the plurality of pipeline management records in the database to assist in planning and execution of repairs to the user selected pipeline equipment.

7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the database further includes a plurality of pipeline corrosion records and wherein the pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises:

a instrument scraping pipeline corrosion identifier positioned to tag a pipeline corrosion record entered by a user through the user interface with a pipeline corrosion record identifier for storage in the database; and

an instrument scraping pipeline corrosion analyzer positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of pipeline corrosion records by the pipeline corrosion record identifier from the database and responsive to the user selecting a pipeline through the user interface to display instrument scraping pipeline corrosion data to assist the user in planning and execution of repairs to the user selected pipeline.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the database further includes a plurality of pipeline cathodic protection equipment records and wherein the pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises:

a cathodic protection equipment identifier positioned to tag a cathodic protection equipment record entered by a user through the user interface with a cathodic protection equipment record identifier for storage in the database; and

a cathodic protection equipment analyzer positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of cathodic protection equipment records by the cathodic protection equipment record identifier from the database and responsive to the user selecting the pipeline through the user interface to display cathodic protection equipment data to assist the user in planning and implementation of cathodic protection resources to the user selected pipeline.

9. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an area network in communication with the server; and

a remote user computer in communication with the area network, positioned remote from the server at a user site, and positioned to access the pipeline information management analyzing software to transmit at least one of geographic data and pipeline equipment data to the pipeline information management analyzing software and to retrieve at least one of the plurality of map segments, the plurality of pipeline equipment records, and the plurality of pipeline management records from the database.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, further comprising a portable user computer adapted to interface with the area network, positioned remote from the server at a user site, and adapted to retrieve the plurality of map segments, the pipeline equipment records, and pipeline management records from the database to display a pipeline equipment work location associated with at least one pipeline equipment and adapted to transmit an updated pipeline management record to the server through the area network to be stored in the database to reflect pipeline equipment work accomplished on the pipeline equipment associated with the pipeline equipment work location.

11. A system as defined in claim 9, further comprising an external agency computer positioned at a external agency site, in communication with the pipeline company server through the area network, having memory associated therewith, having geographic information system-based software stored in the memory, and positioned to locate at least one of a plurality of nearby external agencies, and wherein the pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises an external agency analyzer in communication with the external agency geographic information system-based software through the area network and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display at least one of the plurality of nearby external agencies to the user to locate a nearby external agency to provide support in the event of a pipeline emergency.

12. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the database further includes a plurality of local city records, and wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises:

a cities identifier positioned to tag a local city record in the database with a city record identifier; and

a cities analyzer positioned to retrieve the city record by the city record identifier from the database and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display at least one local city location record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one city near the user selected pipeline equipment.

13. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the database further includes a plurality of pipeline facilities records, and wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises:

a pipeline facilities identifier positioned to tag a pipeline facilities record in the database with a pipeline facilities record identifier; and

a pipeline facilities analyzer positioned to retrieve the pipeline facilities record by the pipeline facilities record identifier from the database and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display at least one pipeline facilities record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one pipeline facility near the user selected pipeline equipment.

14. A pipeline management system to facilitate pipeline management, the system comprising:

a first pipeline company computer positioned at a pipeline company site to define a pipeline company server and having a processor, memory coupled to the processor to store software and database records therein, a graphical display coupled to the processor for displaying graphical images, and a user interface coupled to the processor to provide a user access to manipulate the software and database records;

a database stored in the memory of the pipeline company server and having plurality of map segments each comprising at least one of a map, a processed satellite image, and an aerial photograph, a plurality of pipeline equipment records including at least one of engineering data, drawings, and location data of pipeline equipment, and a plurality of pipeline management records including pipeline equipment management data and a plurality of personnel data records; and

pipeline information management analyzing software stored in memory of the server to analyze pipeline management requirements, the pipeline information management analyzing software including;

a pipeline emergency response analyzer to analyze a pipeline rupture, the pipeline emergency response analyzer including a pipeline valve location locator positioned to retrieve a plurality of pipeline equipment records having pipeline valve location data from the database and responsive to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface and representing a location of the pipeline rupture to identify at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from the location of the pipeline rupture, and

a critical engineering data and drawings analyzer positioned to retrieve a pipeline equipment record containing critical engineering data and drawings from the database and responsive to the user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display critical engineering data and drawings for the user selected pipeline equipment.

15. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the pipeline emergency response analyzer of the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a pipeline segment volume calculator responsive to the pipeline valve location locator determined identity of the at least one immediate upstream valve and the at least one downstream valve and positioned to calculate an amount of pipeline segment volume inventory between the at least one upstream valve and the at least one downstream valve to thereby determine potential lost inventory from the pipeline rupture.

16. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a pipeline equipment distance calculator positioned to retrieve a pipeline equipment record containing pipeline equipment location data from the database and responsive to a user selecting a pipeline equipment through the user interface to display distance measurements of the selected pipeline equipment from a pipeline reference point to determine travel time required to reach a destination work area.

17. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes an assigned personnel determiner positioned to retrieve a personnel data record containing pipeline equipment assignment information from the database and responsive to a user selecting at least one of a pipeline equipment and a pipeline operational area through the user interface to display contact personnel assigned primary responsibility for the user selected at least one of a pipeline equipment and a pipeline operational area.

18. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the at least one immediate upstream valve and the at least immediate downstream valve identified by the pipeline valve location locator includes at least one of an in-line valve and a non-in-line valve.

19. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the emergency response analyzer of the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a rupture exposure radius determiner positioned to retrieve at least one map segment and at least one pipeline equipment record from the database and responsive to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface representing a location of the pipeline rupture to identify a rupture exposure radius coverage area of a pipeline and to provide summary information about pipeline equipment within the rupture exposure radius coverage area.

20. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes:

a graphics generator positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of map segments from the database and at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records from the database and responsive to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface to display a graphical representation of the at least one of the plurality of map segments and the at least one pipeline equipment on the graphical display; and

wherein

the geographic reference point supplied by the user through the user interface and utilized by the graphics generator is supplied through use of at least one of a geographic map coordinate entered in a text box of the graphical display and a user selectable hyperlink attached to a pipeline equipment and displayed on the at least one of the plurality of map segments from the database.

21. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the database further includes a plurality of pipeline incident report records wherein a pipeline incident report record is entered by a user through the user interface to be stored in the database and wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a pipeline emergency incident location displayer positioned to retrieve a pipeline incident report record from the database and responsive to a user request through the user interface to display at least one incident location and responsive to a user selecting at least one incident location to display an incident report record for at least one displayed incident location selected by the user.

22. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises:

a pipeline management analyzer positioned to retrieve a pipeline management record from the database and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display the pipeline management record to the user to thereby assist the user in planning and execution of management actions on the user selected pipeline equipment; and

a pipeline equipment analyzer responsive to the user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display pipeline equipment inspection, operation, and maintenance data stored in at least one of the plurality of pipeline management records in the database to assist in planning and execution of repairs to the user selected pipeline equipment.

23. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the database further includes a plurality of pipeline corrosion records and wherein the pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises an instrument scraping pipeline corrosion analyzer positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of pipeline corrosion records from the database and responsive to a user selecting a pipeline through the user interface to display instrument scraping pipeline corrosion data to assist the user in planning and execution of repairs to the user selected pipeline.

24. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the database further includes a plurality of pipeline cathodic protection equipment records and wherein the pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises a cathodic protection equipment analyzer positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of cathodic protection equipment records from the database and responsive to a user selecting a pipeline through the user interface to display cathodic protection equipment data to assist the user in planning and implementation of cathodic protection resources to the user selected pipeline.

25. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises a critical pipe determiner positioned to retrieve data from the database and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display critical pipe associated with the user selected pipeline equipment.

26. A system as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

an area network in communication with the server; and

a remote user computer in communication with the area network, positioned remote from the server at a user site, and positioned to access the pipeline information management analyzing software to transmit at least one of geographic data and pipeline equipment data to the pipeline information management analyzing software and to retrieve at least one of the plurality of map segments, the plurality of pipeline equipment records, and the plurality of pipeline management records from the database.

27. A system as defined in claim 26, further comprising a portable user computer interfaced with a GPS and positioned remote from the server, adapted to interface with the area network and adapted to receive GPS updated coordinates and adapted to retrieve the plurality of map segments, the pipeline equipment records, and pipeline management records from the database to display a pipeline equipment work location associated with at least one pipeline equipment and adapted to transmit an updated pipeline management record to the server through the area network to be stored in the database to reflect pipeline equipment work accomplished on the pipeline equipment associated with the pipeline equipment work location.

28. A system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an external agency computer positioned at a external agency site, in communication with the pipeline company server through the area network, having memory associated therewith, having geographic information system-based software stored in the memory, and positioned to locate at least one of a plurality of nearby external agencies, and wherein the pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises an external agency analyzer in communication with the external agency geographic information system-based software through the area network and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display at least one of the plurality of nearby external agencies to the user to locate a nearby external agency to provide support in the event of a pipeline emergency.

29. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the database further includes a plurality of local city records, and wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises a cities analyzer positioned to retrieve local city records from the database and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display at least one local city record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one city near the user selected pipeline equipment.

30. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the database further includes a plurality of pipeline facilities records, and wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises a pipeline facilities analyzer positioned to retrieve pipeline facilities records from the database and responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display at least one pipeline facilities record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one pipeline facility near the user selected pipeline equipment.

31. A system as defined in claim 14, further comprising a digitizer positioned to receive a plurality of map segments corresponding to pipeline equipment location data entered by a user from at least one of a map, processed satellite image, and aerial photograph, and digitized by the digitizer, and wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a pipeline information management database preparer having a digitizer module positioned to receive from the digitizer and store in the database the plurality of map segments entered by the user, to enable the user to display geographic data related to pipeline equipment.

32. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises a pipeline information management database preparer including:

a pipeline linker responsive to a geographic reference point representing a geographic location of pipeline equipment selected by the user and entered through the user interface and positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of map segments in the database and at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records from the database to link the user selected geographic location of the pipeline equipment to geographic data of the map segment for storage in the database; and

a hyperlink attacher positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of map segments in the database and at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records and responsive to the link formed by the pipeline linker to add a user selectable hyperlink to the at least one of the plurality of map segments to select the at least one of the plurality of pipeline equipment records to be displayed on the graphical display device to provide graphical user selection of the pipeline equipment.

33. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises a connectivity verifier positioned to retrieve at least one of the plurality of map segments from the database and responsive to a user inputting a new map segment having a named pipeline vector into the database to verify connectivity of the named pipeline vector between the at least one of the plurality of map segments in the database and the new map segment to form a single vector line for each named pipeline between the plurality of map segments, the connectivity verifier including:

a pipeline connectivity identifier positioned to tag a named pipeline vector entered by a user through the user interface with a pipeline connection identifier for assignment to at least one of the plurality of map segments in the database containing the named pipeline vector;

a map segment comparator positioned to retrieve each map segment in the database adjacent the new map segment having the same named pipeline vector to compare each map segment adjacent the new map segment having named pipeline vector to verify at least one pipeline vector map segment endpoint of the new map segment is aligned geographically with an end point of at least one adjacent map segment having the same named pipeline vector; and

a map segment extrapolator responsive to the map segment comparator to extrapolate a geographic alignment of the at least one end point of the named pipeline vector of the new map segment with the at least one named pipeline vector end point of the adjacent map segment identified by the map segment comparator to have at least one pipeline vector map segment endpoint that is not aligned geographically with the corresponding pipeline vector map segment endpoint of the new map segment.

34. A pipeline information management analyzing software stored on a storage media to analyze pipeline management requirements, the software comprising a pipeline emergency response analyzer to analyze a pipeline rupture, the pipeline emergency response analyzer including:

a pipeline valve location locator adapted to retrieve a plurality of pipeline equipment records having pipeline valve location data from a database and adapted to respond to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface and representing a location of the pipeline rupture to identify at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from the location of the pipeline rupture; and

a critical engineering data and drawings analyzer adapted to retrieve a pipeline equipment record containing critical engineering data and drawings from the database and adapted to respond to the user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display critical engineering data and drawings for the user selected pipeline equipment.

35. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline emergency response analyzer of the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a pipeline segment volume calculator responsive to the pipeline valve location locator determined identity of the at least one immediate upstream valve and the at least one immediate downstream valve and adapted to calculate an amount of pipeline segment volume inventory between the at least one upstream valve and the at least one downstream valve to thereby determine potential lost inventory from the pipeline rupture.

36. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the emergency response analyzer of the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a rupture exposure radius determiner adapted to retrieve at least one map segment and at least one pipeline equipment record from the database and adapted to respond to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface representing a location of the pipeline rupture to identify a rupture exposure radius coverage area of a pipeline and to provide summary information about pipeline equipment within the rupture exposure radius coverage area.

37. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a pipeline equipment distance calculator adapted to retrieve a pipeline equipment record containing pipeline equipment location data from the database and adapted to respond to a user selecting a pipeline equipment through the user interface to display distance measurements of the selected pipeline equipment from a pipeline reference point to determine travel time required to reach a destination work area.

38. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes an assigned personnel determiner adapted to retrieve a personnel data record containing pipeline equipment assignment information from the database and adapted to respond to a user selecting at least one of a pipeline equipment and a pipeline operational area through the user interface to display contact personnel assigned primary responsibility for the user selected at least one of a pipeline equipment and a pipeline operational area.

39. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a pipeline emergency incident location displayer adapted to retrieve a pipeline incident report record from the database and adapted to respond to a user request through the user interface to display at least one incident location and adapted to respond to a user selecting at least one incident location to display an incident report record for at least one displayed incident location selected by the user.

40. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises an external agency analyzer adapted to communicate with an external agency computer through an area network and adapted to respond to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to access and display at least one of a plurality of external agency records to the user to locate a nearby external agency to provide support in the event of a pipeline emergency.

41. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the software further includes a pipeline management analyzer adapted to retrieve a pipeline management record from a database and adapted to respond to a user selecting pipeline equipment through a user interface to display the pipeline management record to the user to thereby assist the user in planning and execution of management actions on the user selected pipeline equipment.

42. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further includes a graphics generator adapted to retrieve at least one of a plurality of map segments from the database and at least one of a plurality of pipeline equipment records from the database and adapted to respond to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface and adapted to interface with a graphical display to display a graphical representation of the at least one of the plurality of map segments and the at least one pipeline equipment on the graphical display, and wherein the geographic reference point supplied by the user through the user interface and utilized by the graphics generator is supplied through use of at least one of a geographic map coordinate entered in a text box of the graphical display and a user selectable hyperlink attached to a pipeline equipment and displayed on the at least one of the plurality of map segments from the database.

43. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises an instrument scraping pipeline corrosion analyzer adapted to retrieve at least one of a plurality of pipeline corrosion records from the database and adapted to respond to a user selecting a pipeline through the user interface to display instrument scraping pipeline corrosion data to assist the user in planning and execution of repairs to the user selected pipeline.

44. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management system analyzing software further comprises a cathodic protection equipment analyzer adapted to retrieve at least one of a plurality of cathodic protection equipment records from the database and adapted to respond to a user selecting pipeline through the user interface to display cathodic protection equipment data to assist the user in planning and implementation of cathodic protection resources to the user selected pipeline.

45. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises a cities analyzer adapted to retrieve a local city record from the database and adapted to respond to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display at least one local city record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one city near the user selected pipeline equipment.

46. Software as defined in claim 34, wherein the pipeline information management analyzing software further comprises a pipeline facilities analyzer adapted to retrieve a pipeline facilities record from the database and adapted to respond to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface to display at least one pipeline facilities record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one pipeline facility near the user selected pipeline equipment.

47. A method for facilitating pipeline management, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of digitized map segments each comprising at least one of a map, a processed satellite image, and an aerial photograph for storage in a database to provide for the display of a geographical relationship between terrain featured in the map segments and a pipeline network;

forming a plurality of pipeline equipment records including at least one of engineering data, drawings, and location data of pipeline equipment for storage in the database to provide for detailed engineering analysis on the pipeline equipment; and

forming a plurality of pipeline management records including pipeline equipment management data for storage in the database to provide for planning and execution of management actions on the pipeline equipment.

48. A method for analyzing a pipeline rupture, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from the location of the pipeline rupture to thereby identify pipeline valves potentially needing to be closed; and

displaying critical engineering data and drawings for at least one of a ruptured pipeline, the at least one immediate upstream valve, and the at least one immediate downstream valve.

49. A method as defined in claim 48, further comprising the step of calculating an amount of pipeline segment volume inventory between the at least one immediate upstream valve and the at least one immediate downstream valve to thereby determine potential lost inventory from the pipeline rupture.

50. A method as defined in claim 48, further comprising the step of identifying contact personnel assigned primary responsibility for the pipeline equipment involved in the pipeline rupture.

51. A method as defined in claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

accessing a list of external agencies from an external agency computer to assist a user in locating a nearby external agency to provide support in the event of a pipeline emergency;

displaying at least one local city location record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one city near a user selected pipeline equipment; and

displaying at least one pipeline facilities record to the user to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one pipeline facility near the user selected pipeline equipment.

52. A method for analyzing a pipeline rupture, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from the location of the pipeline rupture to thereby identify pipeline valves potentially needing to be closed;

displaying critical engineering data and drawings for at least one of a ruptured pipeline, the at least one immediate upstream valve, and the at least one immediate downstream valve; and

identifying a rupture exposure radius coverage area of the pipeline to thereby identify an area affected by the pipeline rupture and to obtain summary information about pipeline equipment within the rupture exposure radius coverage area.

53. A method as defined in claim 52, further comprising the step of displaying at least one pipeline incident location to thereby allow a user to select and display an incident report record for the at least one displayed incident location.

54. A method for facilitating pipeline management, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying pipeline equipment inspection, operation, and maintenance data stored in at least one of a plurality of pipeline management records in a database for a user selected pipeline equipment to assist in planning and execution of repairs to the user selected pipeline equipment;

displaying instrument scraping pipeline corrosion data for a user selected pipeline to assist the user in planning and execution of repairs to the user selected pipeline; and

displaying cathodic protection equipment data for the user selected pipeline to assist the user in planning and implementation of cathodic protection resources to the user selected pipeline.

55. A computer readable medium that is readable by a computer to facilitate pipeline management, the computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a geographic reference point representing a location of a pipeline rupture and entered by a user through a user interface, retrieving a plurality of pipeline equipment records having pipeline valve location data from a database, and identifying at least one immediate upstream valve and at least one immediate downstream valve from the location of the pipeline rupture; and

responsive to the user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface, retrieving a pipeline equipment record containing critical engineering data and drawings from the database, and displaying critical engineering data and drawings for the user selected pipeline equipment.

56. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operation:

calculating an amount of pipeline segment volume inventory between the at least one upstream valve and the at least one downstream valve to thereby determine potential lost inventory from the pipeline rupture.

57. A computer readable medium according claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface representing a location of the pipeline rupture, retrieving at least one map segment and at least one pipeline equipment record from the database, identifying a rupture exposure radius coverage area of a pipeline, and providing summary information about pipeline equipment within the rupture exposure radius coverage area.

58. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user selecting a pipeline equipment through the user interface, retrieving a pipeline equipment record containing pipeline equipment location data from the database, displaying distance measurements of the selected pipeline equipment from a pipeline reference point, and determining travel time required to reach the selected pipeline equipment.

59. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user selecting at least one of a pipeline equipment and a pipeline operational area through the user interface, retrieving a personnel data record containing pipeline equipment assignment information from the database, and displaying contact personnel assigned primary responsibility for the user selected at least one of a pipeline equipment and a pipeline operational area.

60. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user request through the user interface, displaying at least one incident location; and

responsive to a user selecting an incident location, displaying an incident report record for the selected incident location.

61. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface, communicating with an external agency computer through an area network, and accessing and displaying at least one of a plurality of external agency records to the user, to thereby assist the user to locate a nearby external agency to provide support in the event of a pipeline emergency.

62. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through a user interface, retrieving a pipeline management record from a database, and displaying the pipeline management record to the user, to thereby assist the user in planning and execution of management actions on the user selected pipeline equipment.

63. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a geographic reference point entered by a user through the user interface, retrieving from the database at least one of a plurality of map segments from the database and at least one of a plurality of pipeline equipment records each associated with a pipeline equipment, interfacing with a graphical display, and displaying a graphical representation of the at least one of the plurality of map segments and the at least one pipeline equipment on the graphical display, the geographic reference point supplied by the user through the user interface through use of at least one of a geographic map coordinate entered in a text box of the graphical display and a user selectable hyperlink linked to the at least one pipeline equipment and displayed on at least one of the plurality of map segments.

64. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user selecting a pipeline through the user interface, retrieving at least one of a plurality of pipeline corrosion records from the database, and displaying instrument scraping pipeline corrosion data, to thereby assist the user in planning and execution of repairs to the user selected pipeline.

65. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user selecting a pipeline through the user interface, retrieving at least one of a plurality of cathodic protection equipment records from the database, and displaying cathodic protection equipment data, to thereby assist the user in planning and implementation of cathodic protection resources to the user selected pipeline.

66. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface, retrieving a local city record from the database, and displaying at least one local city record to the user, to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one city near the user selected pipeline equipment.

67. A computer readable medium according to claim 55, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

responsive to a user selecting pipeline equipment through the user interface, retrieving a pipeline facilities record from the database, and displaying at least one pipeline facilities record to the user, to thereby assist the user in identifying at least one pipeline facility near the user selected pipeline equipment.