re: Colonial Pipeline Ransom In The $100’s of billions.

I hope people realize these pipelines can be operated manually, right?

Sure but they did it to save millions on labor. They could probably run them manually but it’s going to take a month or two of training to make it functional

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i would be shocked if there was not analog control systems

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I know for a fact there these pipelines can be operated manually. IDK what this hack entails but it’s not like this pipeline system is that complex. And when I say operate manually I mean an operator going into the field and flipping a switch on a valve actuator as opposed to controlling the system by SCADA in Colonial Pipeline control room in Alpharetta Georgia.

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Sure but they did it to save millions on labor. They could probably run them manually but it’s going to take a month or two of training to make it functional

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All hands are on deck to fix this problem. People that serve other functions for the company will be moved to assist with operations until the problem is fixed.

The issue will be will the government allow them to flow in that manner. On top of that the company will likely have protocols in place that have to be followed like we ain’t flowing the pipeline without scada monitoring. A company this large isn’t gonna risk having a huge PR blunder on top of this very large issue. More than likely the PLC’s and flow computers used aren’t affected by this attack, but all of the communications infrastructure and servers running the scada softwares are all
Out of commission.

With the right people and all hands on deck no doubt they could get a working system in place within a week or two. Of course you go back to protocol and standards and moc’s.

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I’d imagine the computers allowed the pipeline to become more complex possibly allow a higher volume usage with the automation.

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The “automation” allows the pipeline operator to monitor and control the valves remotely. Colonial sends different products down the line like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc. The valves open and close based on an inline gravity measurement so the gasoline goes into the gasoline tanks, diesel in the diesel tanks, etc. There is some mixing that takes place and that product gets stored in the transmix tanks. The transmix gets blended in with the diesel as long as the diesel still meets spec.

You work in automation or operations? Lmao

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There happen to be a lot of guys out of work right now, who know a bit about pipelines, and this may be a good lesson about why we need another pipeline

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That makes entirely too much sense so it won't happen.

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I’m a pipeline engineer. I’m a little familiar with the Colonial system. I’m in consulting now.

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But Andrew Yang told me that we need UBI because automation will replace all of us. How many people can be employed to turn valves and back up technology for $100’s of billions?