Controlled Operational Emergency Shut-Down (COESD) Procedures are used by pipeline main control centre operators to be prepared in case of an emergency situation. The procedures contain the particular operational measures for each location of the entire pipeline system to be initiated via remote control facilities (e.g. SCADA system or control system). Hopefully the operator will never need to execute these procedures on his job. However, the COESD-Procedures are a good training tool for the control room operators and it is the ideal support and decision basis to initiate the proper operation sequences in a case of emergency in a timely manner.

ILF Consulting Engineers prepared these COESD-Procedures already for various pipeline systems. As an initial preparation step, the theoretical oil spill quantities are calculated for each section (based on the total drain down volume of the isolated block valve sections). The calculated results are graphically presented together with the pipeline elevation profile within the COSES-Section plan. Based on the COESD-Section plan and the available remote control devices (e.g. block valve stations, pump stations, relief tanks) the optimum measures have been defined within the COESD-Procedures to further minimize the potential oil spill quantity during an emergency situation. These COESD-Section plans and COESD-Procedures have been integrated within sophisticated GIS-systems to provide easy, quick and straight forward access to these procedures for the main control center operators.