Evaluation of GeoLocation and Pipe Damage Assessment Applications

Overview

Main Objective

The proposed project goal is to develop and test an above-ground, self-contained measurement system to detect steel anomalies on transmission pipelines. The proposed work capitalizes on years of NYSEARCH-funded work and picks up the development and testing stages before the prototype field tests. The objectives of the proposed work are to complete the advancement of the source signal electronics and enhance the measurement precision to prepare the system for a fully automated system to switch between the optimal source-coil modes and to develop a data retrieval computer and a GPS-positioning system to fully prepare the system for realistic condition field testing. The final deliverable of the project will be a pre-commercial product to field test in the next phase of the project.

Public Abstract

Project Description: The objective of this project is to develop, test, and deploy an above-ground, self-contained measurement system to evaluate the stress, strain, and steel anomalies of buried in-service transmission pipelines, improving efficiency, reliability, and safety.

The gas industry inspects buried steel pipelines to detect pipe movement, and anomalies such as corrosion, and cracks. Over the years, gas utilities have been developing technology to deal with these issues, and while substantial progress has been made, improvements are still needed to efficiently locate and detect stress, strain, corrosion, and damage to the pipe. Currently, Local Distribution Companies (LDC) regularly inspect infrastructure for the safety of the pipeline that may be subject to geohazards or extreme weather events such as floods or landslides. The technology for these inspections are challenging due to the logistical costs and constraints. Limited similar technology is available, leaving operators either having to excavate for direct pipe inspection or internal inspection requiring excavation and costs for launching and retrieving the technology. However, there are associated risks present for excavation and live pipeline internal inspection. As companies want to reduce their carbon footprint this assessment can be done with limited equipment. This also assists with community relations, particularly where construction fatigue exists. Thus, the industry would greatly benefit from technology that is capable of instantaneously evaluating the stress, strain, corrosion, and cracks of in-service buried pipelines without the risk of disrupting operations or the need for large scale equipment and operations for excavation and internal line inspection equipment.

NYSEARCH and its members has been working with Skipper NDT on this surface-remote inspection service for corrosion detection on buried pipe since 2022 and identified the location, inspection, and detection of anomalies on buried steel pipelines as a safety priority. Skipper NDT has substantial knowledge and experience in theoretical physics and electromagnetism. They launched their R&D project in 2017 to evaluate the strain assessment via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). They also developed a pipeline geolocation and strain assessment technology that can be deployed using an UAV or a ground-based mobile cart. This technology is based on remote surface surveys that have been locating pipelines and determining this trajectory with an accuracy of ± 1 foot in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The geohazard technology using the passive system developed by Skipper NDT is a patented solution and has been commercialized. The passive surveys determine only the stress, strain, and trajectory of the pipeline. However, the system proved sensitive enough to also assess the pipeline integrity with the coupling of an active survey system.

Building from the previous phases of this project already completed by NYSEARCH and Skipper NDT, the proposed project outlines the tasks to achieve a pre-commercial product to detect corrosion on buried steel transmission pipelines.

Anticipated Results The anticipated results of this project include integrating the remaining modules and their functionality, including the data retrieval computer and the GPS-positioning system. This will be included in the ground-based mobile system. This project phase will develop the system through the technology demonstrated in the relevant environment and prepare the system for field deployment.

Potential Impact on Safety This project will provide an optimized system to perform ground-based damage assessments of buried steel transmission pipelines while minimizing time and labor, maximizing survey-data analysis to identify potential areas of pipeline deterioration that could lead to a safety incident. Identification and remediation of steel transmission pipeline anomalies increase pipeline safety thereby reducing the risk and frequency of pipeline failures. In addition, the ability to identify pipeline issues and anomalies without the need for excavation speeds up the process of collecting valuable and reliable data while reducing the need for costly excavation. Rather, we can collect data and allow valuable resources to be dedicated where needed addressing known issues. This process will eliminate unnecessary excavation worksite, increasing operational safety, while improving pipeline issue identification.

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