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Northeast Gas Association
20 Waterview Boulevard, 4th Floor
Parsippany, NJ 07054
AOR
James Merritt
Researcher Contact Info
Daphne C. D'Zurko, Vice President, RD & D, NYSEARCH, Northeast Gas Association, (212) 354 4790 x214, F(212)764-7014, ddzurko@northeastgas.org
Technology and Commercialization
Technology Demonstrated
Yes
Commercialized (in whole/part)
TBD
Commercial Partner
Empty Value
Net Improvement
Empty Value
Financial and Status Data
Project Status
Closed
Start Fiscal Year
2006 (06/01/2006)
End Fiscal Year
2008 (06/30/2008)
PHMSA $$ Budgeted
$327,500.00
Main Objective
The primary objective of the proposed project is to develop, test and independently assess the commercial viability of a pre-commercial pipe and joint imaging system. Through this project, this product will be further developed, tested and demonstrated to prospective commercial partners that it can locate pipes and cast iron joints in all types of soils, including some of the most difficult soils for imaging; clay soils. As an added feature, this product will locate with accuracy both the horizontal AND vertical position of the pipe or underground facility and it will distinguish pipes from other underground clutter in dense environments that are typical of suburban or urban areas.
Public Abstract
One of the top priorities for Damage Prevention is to address the need to locate pipes in urban areas and, in general, to improve technologies to locate pipelines. Current pipe location technologies cannot locates all pipes particularly plastic pipes with damaged tracer wire, pipes at depth and pipes in various soils. Also, for gas utilities with cast iron pipes, bell and spigot joints that cannot be located or are missed result in unnecessary excavations, "dry holes" and added cost and disruption to the public. The primary objective of the proposed project is to develop, test and independently assess the commercial viability of a pre-commercial pipe and joint imaging system. Through this project, this product will be further developed, tested and demonstrated to prospective commercial partners that it can locate pipes and cast iron joints in all types of soils, including some of the most difficult soils for imaging; clay soils. Based on extensive previous work and the existing NYSEARCH/HT development program, the technical principles of proposed technology ensure that its performance is superior to GPR in two fundamentally different ways: a) better soil penetration, and, b) better spatial resolution. The proposed project mixes antenna design enhancement, software/firmware improvements, laboratory testing, extensive field testing and technology transfer activities.
