Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_NGN_173 | |
| Title | Core and Vac Drilling machine Anchorage | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 50%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Northern Gas Networks |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 February 2017 | |
| End Date | 01 February 2018 | |
| Duration | 12 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £116,681 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Technical Consultancy | |
| Region | Yorkshire & Humberside | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_NGN_173 |
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| Objectives | The objective of this project is to deliver an innovative design solution which is robust, safe and easy to operate within the Key Hole environment. In detail, the finished design will: allow a drill base to be fitted and securely clamped to the main from the road surface with long handled tooling, within a 600mm diameter keyhole excavation. hold the base to the main in a rigid manner, providing a gas tight seal during both the drilling operation and during deployment of various live launch equipment, such as Acoustic CCTV and Internal Mainspray provide a time saving of approx. 30 minutes per occasion for the Team when installing the drilling machine prior to launch of the acoustic camera or other live launch equipment. Have an ergonomic benefit in that the operation will be easier to carry out for the operative, allowing the use of the ALH System 1 Drilling machine with manual and motorised drive resulting in less physical exertion for the operative The project is deemed succesful , if a product is developed that : meets the requirements as set out in the project’s Objectives andobtains technological readiness as set out in the project’s Scope. | |
| Abstract | Current and proven methods of drilling buried gas mains require the drilling machine base to be anchored to the main via chains. The conventional drilling method is via a Wask drilling machine and base but this activity proves to be difficult and time consuming if used in a 600mm core excavation when trying to thread chains under main and secure to the drill base. The Wask drilling machine is also difficult to operate from the road surface in a Key Hole excavation. Therefore, there is a requirement to develop a new mechanical method of secure anchorage of the drilling machine base to allow the use of the existing ALH System 1 drilling machine which incorporates both a manual and motorised drive system. ALH Systems have an approved drilling and tapping equipment, ‘System 1’, along with the ability to carry out a range of work and fully approved for use in the UK. The current system is designed to be used by an operative whilst in the excavation. Within 6 months, ALH Systems will design, develop and trial an advanced range of tooling that uses the existing system to enable operatives to carry out a Drill and Tap process through a Core and Vac excavation. It is anticipated that the application by securing the Service Valve to the main will be via a mechanical process, thus ensuring securing the service valv to the main will be via a mechanical proces, thus ensuring securing the service valve is assured rather than rely on an external source, hydraulically for example. Alongside the drill and tap process, ALH Systems will be developing a number of Long Handled Tooling items that will enable fittings to be installed on the networks, such as completion plugs, top tees, etc, employ Twinbag flowstopping and the launch of cameras and Flexspray delivery systems.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 09/08/18 | |
