Overview
| Project No. | 234 |
|---|---|
| Contract No. | DTPH56-08-T-000007 |
| Research Award Recipient | Arizona State University 660 S. Mill Ave. Tempe, AZ 85281 |
| AOR | Dallas Rea |
| Researcher Contact Info | Dr. Samuel T. Ariaratnam, Arizona State University Tel (480) 965-1769; fax (480) 965-1769 awards.management@asu.edu ariaratnam@asu.edu |
| Peer Review | More than Effective |
| Peer Review | Very Effective |
| Technology Demonstrated | Yes |
|---|---|
| Commercialized (in whole/part) | Yes |
| Commercial Partner | Pure Technologies Telephone: (443) 766-7873 https://puretechltd.com/ |
| Net Improvement | SmartBall®is a new innovative leak detection technology for oil, gas and petroleum products pipelines larger than 4-inch (100 mm) diameter. It can be deployed to complement existing pipeline integrity programs or as an integrity check on non-piggable lines. The device consists of an instrumented aluminum core in a urethane shell. The device contains a range of instrumentation, including an acoustic data acquisition system that listens for leaks as the ball travels through the pipeline. External Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z17awCAFF98 |
| Project Status | Closed |
|---|---|
| Start Fiscal Year | 2008 (06/01/2008) |
| End Fiscal Year | 2010 (08/31/2010) |
| PHMSA $$ Budgeted | $388,332.00 |
Main Objective
The main objective of the proposed research is to leverage a free-swimming acoustic leak detection tool that is currently used in the water pipeline industry and further develop the device for application in oil product pipelines and evaluate its potential for natural gas pipelines. The target is to develop a device capable of detecting very small leaks (< 1 gpm) and further develop a software program to provide on-site evaluation of results to the end user. The goal is to have a commercially available device within a 24 month project duration.
Public Abstract
Line leakage of oil and natural gas systems can result in significant financial and environmental consequences. Often, small leaks lead to ruptures in the pipeline that result in product escaping into the surround soil. The objective of this joint academic-industry research project is to develop and test a free-swimming device capable of detecting small leaks in oil product (< 1gpm) and natural gas pipelines. The SmartBall swims through the pipeline being assessed and produces results at significantly reduced cost to the end user compared to current leak detection methods. Additionally, the leak detection threshold of the SmartBall will be 50 to 100 times greater than currently provided by conventional computational pipe monitoring (CPM) systems. GIS based above ground loggers that are GPS synchronized will capture low frequency acoustic signatures and digitally log the passage of the SmartBall through a pipeline. The Arizona State University-Pure Technologies Limited team brings complementary expertise to the project. Additionally, industrial partners Imperial Oil and Southwest Gas will provide end user technical expertise during development.
Summary and Conclusions
A total of 19 runs of the Oil and Gas SmartBalls were completed during the project duration using tools ranging from 4" to 10". All of the detected leaks were located within ±6 ft (±2 m) of the leak location. The results show the applicability of the OilBall and GasBall tool for commercial application in oil and natural gas leak detection. Development also included the addition of increased internal memory and battery capacity to extend range, an increased upper temperature limit to allow for use in a wider range of pipelines, a simplified arrangement for data download, and new and user-friendly SmartBall Analyst Software.
Relevant Files & Links
Final Report
Final Report (DTPH56-07-BAA-000002).pdf
Other Files
Success Story