Debris In Pipe

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Wales and West Utilities

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 October 2019

01 March 2021

ENA months

£105,200

Energy

Wales

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Wales and West Utilities

Project Contact, Northern Gas Networks
Project Contact, SGN
Project Contact, Cadent Gas

The scale of this topic is significant, and it would be easy to develop multi-year academic projects in order to provide an overview of the issues. However, this would not necessarily provide the GDNs with obviously routes to addressing debris. Therefore, in order to move forward, a 9-month project has been developed by Steer Energy to provide the GDNs with an overview of the key issues, as well as starting to identify potential routes for improvement. The project is divided into 3 main work packs: Problem Definition: Understanding the issues faced through Debris in Pipes for a range of stakeholders Identify and catalogue challenges: Quantify the challenges (i.e. low, medium, high) faced by the individual components of Operational processes, Solution Avenues: Determine the key areas to target potential solutions towards, with potential solution families conceptualised. The project will be broken down into 3 main work scopes, plus a reporting phase:WP1 Problem Definition Understand current processes where debris is an issue, in relation to (i) robotic use, and (ii) dead and (iii) live insertion techniques. Reference will also be made to other operations where debris appears to create a challenge. Map process and gather stakeholder views (Field Ops, Office Ops, Policy, Innovation etc) under timescales allowed Define what success criteria in operations for each GDN (optimal operations) WP2 Identify and catalogue challenges Debris, Objects, Joints, Sealant, Friction, Pipe Insertion, Pipe Bends etc Analyse each and define impact on easy installation / optimal operations Add rating for each based-on impact and quantify the challenge WP3 Solution Avenues Identify for the key impact areas the possible solution avenues to explore Propose potential partners to support solution development WP4 Reporting Monthly Reporting Final Report Obtain an overview of the challenges of Debris in pipes from a range of stakeholders within each of the GDNs. Provide the GDNs with a draft methodology for the quantification of each of the challenges (such as Debris, Objects, Joints, Sealant, Friction, Pipe Insertion, Pipe Bends) Create overview concept families which could be used in order to provide a solution to the challenge

.

14/12/22