Pipeline Open Data Standard
Encyclopedia
The Pipeline Open Data Standard (PODS) Data Model is used by oil and gas pipeline operators to store pipeline asset and related regulatory compliance and operational data in a Geographic Information System (GIS). The PODS Data Model provides the structure to associate pipeline data records, such as inspection results, with each specific pipe segment and geographic location. These data records may include (partial list): centerline location, pipeline materials and coatings, MAOP, valves and pipeline components, cathodic protection facilities and inspection results, hydrotesting, operating conditions, physical inspection results, leak detection surveys, repairs, foreign line crossings, inline inspection (ILI) results, close-interval survey results, pump and compression equipment specifications, geographic boundaries, external records, risk analysis methods and results, regulatory reports, and pipeline and ROW maintenance activities, among others.
This pipe-centric approach to managing pipeline data in a single data repository, a PODS database, helps pipeline owners to collect, verify, manage, analyze, update, maintain, and deliver all the information about their pipelines quickly and reliably to applications and end-users. Since the data records are linked to the pipe segment, re-route, change of service, asset transfer or sale, abandonment, removal, repair, and replacement are all managed within the PODS database. By utilizing an open, vendor-neutral, industry-standard Data Model for their pipeline GIS database, pipeline owners may select from the commercially available applications which have been built to interface with the PODS Data Model. This lowers the cost and risk of implementing a pipeline GIS while speeding up implementation time. Applications are available to address many pipeline operational requirements related to integrity management, regulatory reporting, alignment sheet generation, mapping and visualization, hydraulic modeling, risk analysis, spill response planning, inspection and work order tracking, records management, and construction data collection and others.
The PODS Data Model is implemented on Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) platforms, and ESRI Geodatabase and Oracle Spatial platforms. The PODS Data Model is delivered ready-to-populate with pipeline records.
The PODS Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit, vendor-neutral, pipeline data standards association incorporated in 2000. The association was created to develop and maintain open data storage and interchange standards to support the needs of the pipeline industry. The PODS Association is governed by the Association Officers and a Board of Directors. The volunteer Technical Committee members work on improvements to the model, documentation, best practices and other association standards. The PODS Executive Director works closely with the association members to lead and manage the activities of the association. The association membership is made up of over 100 pipeline operators and service providers from the US and around the globe.
The PODS Data Model is widely adopted in many natural gas, hazardous liquids, oil and gas gathering and transmission applications, both onshore and offshore, in the United States and internationally. PODS member companies include pipeline operators, software, service, engineering, and data providers, government agencies, and industry associations, and include the world's largest oil and gas companies as key stakeholders in the PODS Association. PODS membership dues fund technical committee activities, contract resources, meetings, marketing, administration, web-hosting, and the annual PODS User Conference. The Association is governed by the Board of Directors; technical oversight of the standards is managed by the Technical Committee; and day to day activities are managed by the Executive Director.
PODS 2.0, released in 2001, with less than 70 tables.
PODS 3.0, released in 2002, doubled in size, including several submodels.
PODS 3.1, released in 2003
PODS 3.2, released in 2004
PODS 3.2.1, released in 2004, maintenance release.
PODS 4.0, released in 2006, includes ILI submodel and documentation.
PODS 4.0.1, released in 2007, maintenance release.
PODS 4.0.2, released in 2007, maintenance release.
PODS 5.0, released 2009, contains 198 Sub-Models, 652 Tables, and, and 4,843 Columns.
PODS 5.0 ESRI Spatial GeoDatabase, released 2010.
This pipe-centric approach to managing pipeline data in a single data repository, a PODS database, helps pipeline owners to collect, verify, manage, analyze, update, maintain, and deliver all the information about their pipelines quickly and reliably to applications and end-users. Since the data records are linked to the pipe segment, re-route, change of service, asset transfer or sale, abandonment, removal, repair, and replacement are all managed within the PODS database. By utilizing an open, vendor-neutral, industry-standard Data Model for their pipeline GIS database, pipeline owners may select from the commercially available applications which have been built to interface with the PODS Data Model. This lowers the cost and risk of implementing a pipeline GIS while speeding up implementation time. Applications are available to address many pipeline operational requirements related to integrity management, regulatory reporting, alignment sheet generation, mapping and visualization, hydraulic modeling, risk analysis, spill response planning, inspection and work order tracking, records management, and construction data collection and others.
The PODS Data Model is implemented on Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) platforms, and ESRI Geodatabase and Oracle Spatial platforms. The PODS Data Model is delivered ready-to-populate with pipeline records.
The PODS Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit, vendor-neutral, pipeline data standards association incorporated in 2000. The association was created to develop and maintain open data storage and interchange standards to support the needs of the pipeline industry. The PODS Association is governed by the Association Officers and a Board of Directors. The volunteer Technical Committee members work on improvements to the model, documentation, best practices and other association standards. The PODS Executive Director works closely with the association members to lead and manage the activities of the association. The association membership is made up of over 100 pipeline operators and service providers from the US and around the globe.
The PODS Data Model is widely adopted in many natural gas, hazardous liquids, oil and gas gathering and transmission applications, both onshore and offshore, in the United States and internationally. PODS member companies include pipeline operators, software, service, engineering, and data providers, government agencies, and industry associations, and include the world's largest oil and gas companies as key stakeholders in the PODS Association. PODS membership dues fund technical committee activities, contract resources, meetings, marketing, administration, web-hosting, and the annual PODS User Conference. The Association is governed by the Board of Directors; technical oversight of the standards is managed by the Technical Committee; and day to day activities are managed by the Executive Director.
PODS Association History
The PODS Association began in 1998 as a Gas Research Institute (GRI) initiative to develop an expanded Integrated Spatial Analysis Techniques (ISAT) data model. The original ISAT 2.0 became PODS 2.0. In 2000, the volunteers leading the research incorporated as a for profit organization (in order to minimize incorporation costs). The first member was CenterPoint Energy and the Association had approximately 10 members. In 2002, the Association re-incorporated as a not-for-profit group. By 2010, the PODS Association has grown to over 110 member companies worldwide.PODS Model History
Since its inception, the PODS Association has supported continued development of the PODS Data Model in order to meet the needs of the pipeline industry. Government regulation and technological advancement of integrity and risk management applications have driven much of this progress.PODS 2.0, released in 2001, with less than 70 tables.
PODS 3.0, released in 2002, doubled in size, including several submodels.
PODS 3.1, released in 2003
PODS 3.2, released in 2004
PODS 3.2.1, released in 2004, maintenance release.
PODS 4.0, released in 2006, includes ILI submodel and documentation.
PODS 4.0.1, released in 2007, maintenance release.
PODS 4.0.2, released in 2007, maintenance release.
PODS 5.0, released 2009, contains 198 Sub-Models, 652 Tables, and, and 4,843 Columns.
PODS 5.0 ESRI Spatial GeoDatabase, released 2010.
See also
- Gas Technology InstituteGas Technology InstituteThe Gas Technology Institute is an American non-profit research and development organization which develops, demonstrates, and licenses new energy technologies for private and public clients, with a particular focus on the natural gas industry. GTI is located in Des Plaines, Illinois.-History:The...
(formerly Gas Research Institute) - Open specificationsOpen specificationsAn open specification is a specification created and controlled, in an open and fair process, by an association or a standardization body intending to achieve interoperability and interchangeability. An open specification is not controlled by a single company or individual or by a group with...
- Open standardOpen standardAn open standard is a standard that is publicly available and has various rights to use associated with it, and may also have various properties of how it was designed . There is no single definition and interpretations vary with usage....
- Pipeline transportPipeline transportPipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....