Oil Pipeline Application of Microprocessors

Microprocessors are being applied successfully to various pipeline applications in which conventional relay or discrete component solid-state circuitry is traditional. The reasons for this intrusion of the microprocessor are the better reliability and economics that can be achieved using this technological development. Specific applications of microprocessors are described with the historical development of each application in perspective. The direction of future microprocessor applications and impact on the practicing engineer in the pipeline industry are discussed. The conclusion is that economics of microprocessor applications will encourage their increased use in solving the operating problems of the pipeline industry.