Enhancement of the Long-Range Ultrasonic method for the Detection of Degradation in Buried, Unpiggable Pipelines

Fast Facts
Technology and Commercialization
Research Entity:	PetroChem Inspection Services 8211 La Porte Freeway Houston, TX 77012
COTR:
Contract #:	DTRS56-02-T-0007
Project #:	112
Contact Info:	Mr. Scott Lebsack 8211 Channelside Houston, TX 77012 http://www.petrochemintl.com/ Email: scott_lebsack @ petrochemintl.com
Partners:	Penn. State Univ. http://www.psu.edu/ Plant Integrity, LTD. http://www.plantintegrity.co.uk/ FBS Inc.
Technology Demonstrated?	Yes
Commercialized (in whole/part)?	Yes
Commercial Partner	Mr. Scott Lebsack PetroChem Inspection Services 8211 La Porte Freeway Houston, TX 77012 Phone: (713) 926-9936 http://www.petrochemintl.com/teletest.htm
Net Improvement	Improvements were integrated in the TeleTest operating software that facilitates the new sound beam focusing technique. This wave focusing improves the sensitivity and range of inspection and identifies which quadrant of the pipe circumference contains the defect measured in cross sectional area. Hardware improvements were also made to support the multi wave focusing.
Financial and Status Data
Project Status:	Closed
Start Fiscal Year:	2003 (10/01/2002)
End Fiscal Year:	2005 (06/30/2005)
PHMSA $$ Budgeted:	$655,564.00
$$ Co-Funded:	$633,325.00
Total Project Cost:	$1,288,889.00

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Main Objective

The purpose of this research is to develop better technologies for detecting degradation in buried, unpiggable, pipelines.

Public Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop better technologies for detecting degradation in buried, unpiggable, pipelines. The research will include the following tasks:

Benchmark existing technology for metrics;
Compare lamb waves vs. shear horizontal waves;
Conduct finite-element modeling of ultrasonic guided wave responses from defects;
Develop hardware and software for frequency tuning and time delay profiling;
Develp simplified singal interpretation; and
Improve instrumentation of sensors.