$50 million in the pipeline

has been awarded $50 million by Pacific Texas Pipeline and Transportation Company to design and build the security and communications systems for the first construction phase of the $440 million Pacific Texas Products Pipeline. The pipeline will move petrol, diesel and jet fuel 425 miles from El Paso, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona.

Siemens will be the exclusive provider of security systems and the communications infrastructure needed for the project. The company also will provide systems maintenance and monitoring services.

Security of the pipeline will consist of closed circuit television, access control and intrusion detection systems, fire detection, and an intelligent video system programmed to eliminate false alarms.

It will also include day-and-night cameras and thermal cameras linked to a public address system so that security officers can communicate with anyone who breeches the pipeline’s right-of-way.

Security monitoring will take place on a 24/7 basis from two Operational Command Centres at each end of the pipeline, in addition to the Siemens Central Monitoring Station in Dallas, Texas.

Siemens Building Technologies will be supported in the project by sister companies Siemens Communications, Siemens Optic Transport Networks, and Siemens Maintenance Services.

The project began in October 2005 and is expected to be completed in late 2006 or early 2007. According to Pacific Texas Chairman Cecil Owens, the Pacific Texas Products Pipeline will serve as a model for future pipeline builds.