Session: 01-10 Digital Transformation in Inspection, Compliance, and Engineering Management

Paper Number: 172621

172621 - Leveraging Patrol Imagery, Remote Sensing Data and Ai for Bp’s Right-of-Way Management and Protection 

In mid 2024, BP and Barr outlined a roadmap to collaboratively develop an ArcGIS pipeline intelligence suite aimed at leveraging patrol flights, imagery, and other remote sensing data to prioritize and track threats along the right-of-way. The first step consisted of adding oblique imaging cameras that capture imagery over all 3,000 plus miles of Barr’s weekly patrol flights. Collecting oblique images allows for the crew to visually patrol while also gathering imagery to supplement and to leverage for AI modelling.  The digital imagery is fully integrated with ESRI’s oriented imagery catalog (OIC) allowing operators to overlay their pipeline attributes and GIS layers while also leveraging archive imagery for a historical perspective of any activity along the right-of-way.

The initial catalogue of aerial imagery formed the foundation of Barr’s object detection model's dataset. This imagery was and is continuously curated and annotated to identify objects of interest. This dataset is then used to train an object detection model, which undergoes stringent testing and evaluation. Critical to Barr’s process is an iterative refinement loop, where performance gaps trigger analysis of failure cases and targeted adjustments to the training approach or data, ensuring the deployed model meets demanding real-world performance requirements. The refined object detection models were then added into the ArcGIS suite identifying and risk ranking threats detected along the right-of-way after each patrol flight.

In an effort to streamline data onto ArcGIS, Barr added a flight tracking application that populates patrol flight data and notifies compliance status warning BP of impending pipeline sections that are approaching non-compliance while also maintaining a record of flights for audit purposes. Additionally patrol reports are now housed in ArcGIS allowing for easy access and storage in a database replacing excel files.

This presentation will demonstrate the many advantages and use cases of hosting an ArcGIS pipeline intelligence suite of patrol flights, imagery, and other remote sensing data. It will touch on:

Integration with other datasets via API or ESRI Collaboration.

Regulatory compliance/proof of patrol.

Leveraging and integrating Lidar for vegetation encroachment and geohazard monitoring.

Depth of cover and no till zones.

Construction monitoring.

Asset inventory.

Barr will also relay the advances in object detection models used to monitor subtle changes along the right of way including proprietary techniques used to tie the data to the ground.

Presenting Author: Kris Covey Barr Geospatial

Presenting Author Biography: Kris is VP Oil & Gas at Barr Geospatial with over 15 years of experience in developing new markets for emerging technologies. He has worked extensively in the Oil & Gas sector supporting pipeline integrity and construction programs. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta. From his background in developing markets for emerging technologies, he has supported the introduction of new NDT techniques, remote satellite monitoring and , leak detection, aerial imaging with AI and patrol of various oil & gas infrastructure. Kris’s work at Barr includes developing the utilization of LiDAR and other remote sensing techniques as an operational tool to monitor pipelines for geohazards and leak detection. He has considerable experience working with pipeline integrity managers in North America.