Infrasonic Frequency Seismic Sensor System for Pipeline Integrity Management

Overview

Main Objective

Physical Sciences, Inc (PSI) has successfully developed under a SBIR phase I program the Infrasonic Gas Pipeline Evaluation Network (PIGPEN) system that detects and warns of third-party damage before it occurs. PIGPEN uses low frequency seismic/acoustic sensor technology to proactively detect and warn of unauthorized activity near underground gas pipelines before damage occurs, thereby preventing third party damage and subsequent pipeline leaks or failure. Under the SBIR phase I work PSI successfully demonstrated the basic feasibility of the concept, and will transition the technology from its current proof-of-concept stage to a pre-commercial prototype in phase II.

The Phase II effort has four specific task

1. Demonstrate a PIGPEN sensor that meets the performance requirements of a third-party damage early warring system.
2. Demonstrate threat identification and threat location algorithms as an enabling technology for a third-party damage early warning system.
3. Develop a PIGPEN prototype system that forms a basis for a commercially viable project that meets both the performance and market requirements of a third-party damage early warning system.
4. Transition the PIGPEN technology to a commercialization partner.

Summary and Conclusions

The PIGPEN Alpha Prototype (AP) was developed and fabricated from this research project. The researchers developed and implement Build-3 software algorithms and established AP performance by laboratory and field testing. A network architecture, set detailed specifications for the network and communication performance was designed. The AP hardware was fabricated and the hardware was bench tested to prove that it successfully met its design specifications.

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