Submit Research Gap Suggestions by following this link .
1. BACKGROUND
The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) sponsors Research & Development (R&D) projects to enhance the safety and reliability of the nation’s pipelines through technological and knowledge-based solutions. While PHMSA has traditionally identified and road mapped research gaps at periodic public events, these events, though well-attended, don’t always allow for participation from all stakeholders. To broaden engagement and capture a wider range of research ideas, PHMSA has launched a gap submission portal. This portal provides a year-round opportunity for anyone to submit a research gap, regardless of their ability to attend a specific event. The continuous submission process will allow PHMSA to build a larger and more diverse portfolio of potential research projects, informing future research solicitations and ultimately contributing to pipeline safety.
2. RESEARCH PROGRAMMATIC AREAS/ELEMENTS
The Pipeline Safety Research Program organizes program planning, execution, and tracking around the following subject areas.
Threat Prevention
This area addresses excavation activity damage prevention and improving sub-surface locating/mapping. Research also addresses preventing or monitoring other threats whether they are coming from corrosion, outside force damage, etc.
Leak Detection
Research in this area addresses leak detection or monitoring of hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines, including sub-surface, surface, and airborne-based sensors and deployment platforms. Research also addresses approaches to lessen release volumes from leak/rupture incidents.
Anomaly Detection/Characterization
This area aims to improve the capability to identify and locate critical pipeline defects, and to characterize the severity or interacting nature of such defects. Research in this area includes solutions from within or outside the pipe.
Remediation/Repair
This area focuses on enhancing repair materials, techniques, processes, or tools designed to quickly bring pipeline systems back online.
Design/Materials
Research in this area advances design approaches and materials to construct safe, long-lasting pipelines using the most appropriate materials.
Welding/Joining
Research in this area advances tools, procedures, and inspections of metallic and non-metallic welding.
LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
Research in this area focuses on enhancing the safety of LNG operations. This includes testing LNG safety systems, performing quantitative risk assessments to identify potential hazards, and developing hazard mitigation models to minimize the impact of accidents.
Underground Gas Storage
This area of research addresses the safety and integrity of underground natural gas storage facilities. The work involves risk assessments to understand potential failure modes, evaluating the strength of well casings, testing subsurface safety valves, and analyzing and monitoring equipment both underground and at the surface.
Other
This category includes all research gap areas that do not align with any of the above areas.
3. RESEARCH GAP SUBMISSION FAQ
How do I submit a research gap?
Research gaps can be submitted by following this link or via the banner at the top of this page. That action will take you to a new page where the data fields will be revealed required to participate.
What will become of submitted gaps?
PHMSA will collect all submitted gaps. The form data fields will categorize the gap for usage in PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety research program. The form data fields will support further categorization for presentation to leadership, and approved gaps will be used to build future research solicitations.
Who can be contacted to answer additional questions?
Any questions should be emailed to the R&D Team at R&DTeam@dot.gov using the email subject “Research Gap Suggestion Question.”