Petrochemical Distribution SCADA

Vopak Terminal Los Angeles
Wilmington, California

One operator in a central control room oversees multiple concurrent pipeline, ship, and truck transactions for 22 petrochemical tanks. Tank levels, pump statuses, valve positions, and alarm conditions are reported graphically and audibly to the operator. Semi-automatic control operations are initiated through multi-monitor PC workstations, allowing concurrent operations to be fully monitored.

The operator transfers product from trucks, tank to tank, ship to tank, tank to ship, tank to pipeline, and pipeline to tank. Jet fuel is received, stored, filtered, and routinely piped to Los Angeles International (LAX) airport. Pumps are automatically sequenced off and actuated valves closed when the desired quantity of product is transferred. Multiple concurrent automatic transfers are routine using the sophisticated Oil Transfer System (OTS) developed by Custom Automation.

The control system automatically tracks inventory movement and posts this data seamlessly to the business office database three miles away over a Custom Automation installed microwave wide area network (WAN). The control system can also be operated remotely over the WAN in the event of an evacuation of the tank farm caused by an earthquake or other emergency.