Satellite-Based Intelligence for Targeted Pipeline Inspections
Gasunie Deutschland successfully transformed their pipeline monitoring approach through a six-month pilot project with Orbital Eye’s COSMIC-EYE platform, enabling more precise risk assessment and creating a foundation for more sustainable and efficient inspections.
About Gasunie Deutschland
Gasunie Deutschland is one of the leading gas transmission network operators in Germany, responsible for the safe transport of natural gas and biogas across the northwest of the country. As part of the larger Gasunie group operating in both Germany and the Netherlands, the company is committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of its extensive pipeline network while exploring innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency.
The Challenge
Gasunie Deutschland sought to determine whether satellite technology could effectively contribute to protecting their gas transmission network. They aimed to explore a solution that could complement existing monitoring methods, improve early risk detection, and reduce resource-intensive field inspections.
The Solution: Strategic Satellite Monitoring
Following successful collaborations between Orbital Eye and Gasunie in the Netherlands, Gasunie Deutschland implemented a pilot project using the COSMIC-EYE platform. The six-month pilot covered approximately 200 kilometers of their pipeline network, focusing on leveraging satellite intelligence to enhance their existing monitoring processes.
The implementation utilized COSMIC-EYE’s sophisticated technology that combines multiple data sources, including radar and multispectral satellite imagery that capture details beyond what is visible to the naked eye. The system’s AI algorithms processed this comprehensive data to identify potential threats along the pipeline corridors. When potential risks were detected, the platform provided team members with precise coordinates and current images of the affected areas.
Results and Impact
The pilot project with COSMIC-EYE delivered significant benefits to Gasunie Deutschland's pipeline monitoring:
- Enhanced Detection: The platform consolidated comprehensive satellite data into concrete system indications, enabling teams to conduct targeted inspections based on reliable intelligence.
- Comprehensive Monitoring: Advanced sensors provided surveillance beyond human visual perception, utilizing radar and multi-spectral data to reveal potential threats invisible to traditional methods.
- Increased Efficiency: The new approach optimized resource allocation through in-office evaluations and targeted field inspections.
- Sustainable Solution: Our satellite monitoring technology established a foundation for more environmentally responsible operations.
“The possibility of complementing our pipeline inspection with satellite-based monitoring is an innovative and forward-looking solution, especially in terms of efficiency and sustainability."
— Lukas Lübbe, Engineer Technical Integrity
Looking Ahead
Following the successful pilot, Gasunie Deutschland is now evaluating how to incorporate satellite technology into their monitoring processes on a broader scale.