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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 focused on providing technological and
knowledge solutions that will increase the safety and reliability of
the Nation's pipelines. Historically, research gaps are identified
and road mapped at public events, held periodically as funding and
program actions allow. Although hundreds of attendees usually
participate at each event, many stakeholders cannot attend since
they either don't have the means or availability.
PHMSA is using this Special Notice to solicit research ideas on a
year-round basis to reach the widest set of stakeholders and
identify a larger more diverse portfolio of research. The input from
this Special Notice will also generate a pool of research ideas for
potential future research solicitations.
PHMSA will use submitted research gaps to formulate a research
strategy for its Pipeline Safety Research Program.
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 to all
pipeline types and improving sub-surface locating/mapping. Research
also addresses preventing or monitoring for other threats whether
they are coming from corrosion, outside force damage, etc.
Leak Detection
Research in this area addresses leak detection or monitoring on
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 is advances tools, procedures, and inspections
of metallic and non-metallic welding.
LNG/Underground Gas Storage
Research in this area supports a wide range of LNG safety system
testing, quantitative risk assessments, and/or various hazard
mitigation models. For gas storage, research focuses on risk
assessments, well casing strength evaluations, subsurface safety
valve testing, and both subsurface and facility-level equipment
analysis and monitoring.
Other
This category includes all research gap areas that do not align with
any of the above areas.
3. SUGGESTED PRIORITIES
While PHMSA is seeking research gaps relevant to its statutory
jurisdiction under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), Parts 190-199, there are several additional identified
priorities for PHMSA that could lead to future competitive research
solicitations.
The following high interest areas can target subjects within one or
more of the main programmatic areas described:
- Methane abatement
-
Removing barriers for the safe transportation of emerging fuels
such as hydrogen
4. 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".
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