OIL STORAGE tanks and transmission pipelines situated in remote, environmentally-sensitive areas can involve time-consuming journeys of many miles to check sumps at unmanned pumping stations and oil storage facilities. Now, Ionics has introduced a range of 'wireless' oil-on-water leak-detection systems. The detectors use Orbcomm satellite communications and cellular networks to alert operators to remote leaks and spills. A satellite sends alarm e-mail messages to users whenever oil is detected and indicates the oil layer thickness. During other times, regular messages routinely confirm that the sensor is alive and that it has not been moved. Cellular phone users can receive the same information as an SMS message. Operational parameters can be reset and new software remotely downloaded again via the links.
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