Incremental Cost Estimates for the Patient-Centered Medical Home

Based on data from thirty-five primary care practices, analyzes the costs associated with the medical home model, in which primary care practices also provide care coordination, patient education, and related services. Considers implications

Offshore Pipeline Leak Detection with PSLs

Pressure safety low alarms (PSLs) have been required as a means of pipeline leak detection. PSLs are typically located on the export riser and on each boarding riser of intermediate platforms. The PSL is intended to shut in the production in the event of a pipeline leak. Historical production and leak event data suggest that PSL alarms may not function as expected in all operating situations. The US Minerals Management Service (MMS) commissioned a study to determine PSL operation as a function of produced fluids, line characteristics and other factors. This paper summarizes the findings of this study. The results of this study demonstrate situations in which PSLs can function as prescribed and situations in which PSLs may prove unreliable. The results of this study are significant because offshore pipelines are typically the greatest source of offshore pollution

Pipelines as Communication Network Links

This report presents the results of an investigation into two methods of using the natural gas pipeline as a communication medium. The work addressed the need to develop secure system monitoring and control techniques between the field and control centers and to robotic devices in the pipeline. In the first method, the pipeline was treated as a microwave waveguide. In the second method, the pipe was treated as a leaky feeder or a multi-ground neutral and the signal was directly injected onto the metal pipe. These methods were tested on existing pipeline loops at UMR and Batelle. The results reported in this report indicate the feasibility of both methods. In addition, a few suitable communication link protocols for this network were analyzed

Pipelines as communication network links

This report presents the results of an investigation into two methods of using the natural gas pipeline as a communication medium. The work addressed the need to develop secure system monitoring and control techniques between the field and control centers and to robotic devices in the pipeline. In the first method, the pipeline was treated as a microwave waveguide. In the second method, the pipe was treated as a leaky feeder or a multi-ground neutral and the signal was directly injected onto the metal pipe. These methods were tested on existing pipeline loops at UMR and Batelle. The results reported in this report indicate the feasibility of both methods. In addition, a few suitable communication link protocols for this network were analyzed. Document type: Repor