Buried Pipe Integrity 

Initiative

Inspection technodevelopment

February 24, 2010Bo ClarkProgram Manager-Balance of PCorrosion, EPRI
Perspective

• Inspection technology is a challenge

– Configuration of buried piping at our sites doe

allow use of many of the technologies utilized industries

– Visible inspection by excavation is not reason

© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. 2

many situations

– Guided wave is one of the developing technol

condition assessment

• Limitations apply

• Following slides provide overview of technology b

investigated

– Status will be reported periodically
© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. 3
Guided Wave Reference Document

EPRI Report 1019115 “Buried Pipe Guided Wave Examination Reference Document” (Published 

– Resource for utility when examining buried pipe

guided wave technology

– Provides basic guided wave theory

Identifies critical data acquisition and analysis v

© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

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– Identifies critical data acquisition and analysis v– Identifies limitations– Identify and provide guidance on variables effe

GW capabilities

– Literature study that identifies many key docum– Document state of the art as well as gaps
Guided Wave Workshop

Purpose

– Lays basic foundation of buried pipe guided wa

examination

– For utility buried pipe owners and NDE personn

responsible for implementing Guided Wave 

examination

© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

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– Based on EPRI Report 1019115 “Buried Pipe G

Wave Examination Reference Document”

Schedule

– 1st Workshop held in December 2009 

• Well attended by both buried pipe owners an

– Plans for additional workshops in 2010 and 20
Buried Pipe NDE Reference Document – 

of the Art SummaryProject (In Progress)

– Document the state of the art in buried pipe NDE techn

– Provide utility personnel a reference document for plan

implementing NDE technology

• Guidance on selecting and applying buried pipe ND

technologies 

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• Identify capabilities and limitations to the extent know

assess capabilities)

• Identify limiting piping conditions and configurations• Identification of gaps in inspection technology

Schedule

– Initial version to be published in 2010– Project proposed to provide updates
© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. 7
Resources – Equipment 

• TeleTest guided wave system (Piezoelectric)

– 2009 EPRI Capital purchase– Hardware and software– Various transducer assemblies

• SwRI MsSR 3030 System (Magnetostrictive)

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SwRI MsSR 3030 System (Magnetostrictive)

– Hardware and software– Various sensors

• EMAT Generated Guided Wave 

– Have some resources – Plans to purchase additional resources in 201

• Modeling (Finite element modeling analytical too
Pipe Mock-ups

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Resources – Mock-up

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Identification and Assessment of Buried 

NDE Technology (In progress)

• Identify potential NDE technologies for inspection of buried 

– Immediate use– Further development

• Examples:

– EMATs generated ultrasonic

© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. 12

– Remote Field Technology (RFT)

– Acoustic Emission & Leak Detection

• Establishing relationships with other industries more experie

buried pipe inspection

– Petrochemical and gas industry– PRCI– Pipeline inspection vendors
Vehicle for Very Large Diameter Pip

• Development and field testing of vehicle for very large d

buried pipe (36” < D < 12’) was completed in 2008

• Detect

− Internal and external pits− Circumferential weld 

Exciter 

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degradation

− Longitudinal weld 

degradation 

• Install through 24” diameter 

manway

• Can dissemble to pass 

through elbows

Detector Array
Vehicle for Medium Diameter Pipe

• Being developed to inspect pipes 

form 12” to 30” diameter

• Runs along a guide wire• 1” of radial clearance to allow for 

mud, tubercles, coatings, etc

• Can traverse

Instrument Modules

© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. 14

Can traverse

– Change of elevations– Branches, tees– Multiple elbows (at least 6)

• Retrieval safety – 2 levels

– Cable pull– 2nd vehicle 

• Field testing in 2011

Spring Loaded Wheels

Sensors

Commercialization inq

received
© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. 15
Guided Wave Applications 

Project Proposal • Focused scanning to improve sensitivity and sizin

capabilities

– Develop and test guided wave routines 

• Develop techniques for using guided wave in sm

“keyhole

” digs

© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. 16

– reduce excavation cost

• Evaluate guided wave’s effectiveness for assess

integrity

• Develop and assess techniques to perform on-lin

monitoring

• Develop a data base for the industry’s guided wa
Together...Shaping the Future of Elect

© 2010 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. 17