Inertial locating to accurately map live underground gas distribution utilities is a game changer

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On The Mark Locators, LLC
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Inertial locating to accurately map LIVE
underground gas distribution utilities is a game
changer

• Inertial locating is an innovative technology
  that is used to accurately map underground pipe
  networks. But to date the technology has required
  non-pressurized pipes. Now a PHMSA-sponsored
  project has demonstrated that the technology can
  be applied to small-diameter pressurized gas
  lines with no disruption of service to customers.
  The Reduct DuctRunner inertial mapping
  technology, about which I have blogged
  previously, allows mapping networks of
  (unpressurized) pipes with various diameters for
  distances of up to 2 km (1.25 Miles) with a
  precision of 15 cm (6 Inches) horizontally and
  vertically.

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• As the underground congestion increases, accurate
  mapping data of gas infrastructure is very
  critical for ensuring public safety. To improve
  underground pipeline locating tool applicability,
  a recent technology development and demonstration
  project was sponsored by the Pipeline and
  Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
  and Operations Technology Development (OTD). The
  project was performed by a partnership between
  the Gas Technology Institute (GTI), Reduct and
  PRISUM Technologies (Condux International) and
  has shown that inertial mapping technology can
  now be inserted through a vertical Hot Tap Entry
  (HTE) for mapping live (pressurized) gas pipe
  networks as small as 2 inches (5 cm), with no
  disruption in service to downstream gas customers.

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• Currently best practices for recording the
  location of new underground infrastructure are to
  survey it after installation and before covering
  the trench. Appropriate survey tools are total
  stations, RTK, and LiDAR. However, for (deeper
  lying) existing infrastructure these technologies
  cannot be used. Also, trenchless technology is
  increasingly being used with the result that
  cross bores have become a major problem in many
  jurisdictions. Figure 3An innovative technology
  that is being increasingly applied to locating
  existing pipe networks or those installed by way
  of horizontal drilling is inertial locating.
  Using this technology, it is possible to map
  networks of (empty) pipes with diameters ranging
  from 29 mm (1.1 inches) and above for distances
  of up to 2 km ( 1.25 Miles)) with a precision of
  up to 15 cm (6 Inches) in XYZ. The output of such
  a system is a 3D model.

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• Whereas conventional electromagnetic (EM) and
  ground penetrating radar (GPR) technologies have
  proven their value, they both require boots on
  the pavement and each has deficiencies that
  limits its applicability. EM methods only work
  for conductive materials, are generally not
  reliable for measuring depth and severed tracer
  wires for plastic pipes are a common problem.
  Soil conditions, nearby electromagnetic noise
  sources, and accessibility limits the usefulness
  of GPR. Inertial mapping relies on a battery
  powered autonomous probe (no cable is required)
  with on-board gyroscopes, accelerometers, and
  odometers. The mapping tool records changes in
  direction and speed at a hundred samples per
  second to create an accurate, high frequency 3D
  profile of the pipe segment being traversed.
  Inertial mapping avoids the major limitations of
  surface-based EM and GPR techniques

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• it is not sensitive to soil conditions and
  extraneous electromagnetic noise, works with all
  types of pipe materials and is safe because it
  does not require boots on the pavement.
• The significant breakthrough realized in this
  PHMSA-sponsored project is for the mapping probe
  to enter a pressurized small diameter pipe
  through a standard vertical hot tap and making
  the 90-degree turn into the mapping direction.
  This eliminates the need to disrupt service to
  customers because the pipe remains pressurized.
  The Reduct/GTI/Prisum partnership successfully
  demonstrated the new solution by mapping several
  2 inch (5 cm) and 4 inch (10 cm) gas pipes owned
  by gas companies operating in the Chicago area.

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• The longest run performed during these
  demonstrations was 300 feet (100 metres) in each
  direction but the Ductrunner developers believe
  this distance can be increased significantly.
  This latest advance in inertial mapping
  dramatically broadens the applicability of the
  technology and represents a major breakthrough in
  mapping underground pipe networks of various
  sizes and in different environments. It is
  expected that the first commercial units of the
  live gas line solution will become commercially
  available within months.

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Contact Us

• Address - Bear, Delaware, USA
• Phone - [phone]
• Email - info_at_onthemarklocators.com
• Website - https//onthemarklocators.com
• Blog - https//onthemarklocators.com/inertial-loca
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