Broadband Electromagnetic Technology Sensor to Assess Ferrous Pipes without Removing Coatings in Both Traditional and Keyhole Excavations

Project Categories

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• Onshore Transmission Pipeline
• Natural Gas Distribution
• Direct Assessment
• Non-destructive Testing/Evaluation

Main Objective

The objective of the project is to enhance and evaluate a portable, cost effective, and reliable direct-assessment tool capable of detecting metal loss, pits, and cracks in ferrous pipes that does not require the removal of pipe coatings, and has the ability to be used through keyhole and traditional excavations.

Public Abstract

Operations Technology Development (OTD), along with Rock Solid Group and Gas Technology Institute (GTI), are developing a ferrous pipe inspection approach that uses Broadband Electromagnetic (BEM) technology. The BEM system is a portable, cost effective, pipeline direct-assessment tool that does not require the removal of pipe coatings. It has the ability to be used in both keyhole (small excavations) and traditional excavations. The objective of this project is to complete final enhancements to the BEM system and perform field evaluations to validate its capability. These final steps are required to bring this technology to the U.S. market. The BEM system will add a new direct assessment tool to establish the physical condition of pipelines, helping to ensure the integrity, operational reliability, and efficiency of the national distribution and transmission pipelines.

Quarterly Status Reports

3rd Quarterly Status Report - Public Page

GTI-DOTPUBLICQuarterlyBEM20090531.pdf (141,414 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]

2nd Quarterly Status Report - Public Page

GTI-DOTPUBLICQuarterlyBEM25FEB2009.pdf (130,160 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]

1st Quarterly Status Report and Conduct kick-off meeting with partnering utilities to determine system needs - Public Page

GTI-DOT_PUBLIC_Quarterly_BEM_2008-12-1.pdf (92,602 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]

4th Quarterly Status Report - Public Page

PUBLICQuarterlyBEM200908F.doc (1,166,848 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]