Nov. 4--ABB has selected Intergraph®, the leading global provider of enterprise engineering and geospatial software, for the development of an oil and gas pipeline network and relevant facilities in North Africa. The pipeline network will be built in the El Merk field, a remote, harsh desert location in Algeria.

Geospatial-based pipeline infrastructure management solutions from Intergraph enable companies to more effectively design, construct and maintain pipelines and assets and demonstrate a comprehensive pipeline integrity program while reducing the cost of maintaining records. By storing records in a central geographic information system (GIS), the solution makes information readily available for a variety of applications, improving record keeping productivity while assuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Geospatial technology from Intergraph will play a significant role in the design and installation of the pipeline, field gathering stations, gas distribution manifolds, flow and trunk lines and water and gas re-injection facilities in El Merk. The technology will support the Pipeline Open Data Standard (PODS) model, the most widely implemented pipeline data model in the industry, and all data will be stored in an Oracle Spatial database. The implementation will also include a portal component for the seamless distribution of data to all parties, including field and remote users.

"An accurate, up-to-date view of all critical assets at any given time is a crucial component of any pipeline implementation project," said Sergio Casati, ABB Project Manager. "Especially in such challenging terrain conditions, we need to keep our pulse on the status of all assets in near real-time. The strength of Intergraph technology and its more than 40 years of experience in the utilities sector, as well as market leadership in enterprise engineering software, were key factors in our decision to partner with the company on this project. Intergraph's open, flexible technology platform was also desirable for an initiative like the El Merk project, which involves a consortium of multiple vendors."

"The collaboration of Intergraph with ABB Italy on this project marks a significant milestone in Intergraph's involvement in the oil and gas pipeline industry," said Maximilian Weber, Utilities & Communications manager for Intergraph in EMEA. "Intergraph has worked with leading pipeline providers around the world including Spectra Energy and Northwest Energy in the U.S., E.ON Ruhrgas in Germany and Chongqing Gas in China. Additionally, our Process, Power & Marine division is the world's leading provider of enterprise engineering software for the design, construction and operation of plants, pipelines, ships and offshore facilities. We are pleased that ABB has recognized our strength in this industry and has chosen us to ensure the accurate, efficient management of assets, as well as play a key role in protecting this infrastructure."

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