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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_NGN_235
Title	Alternative Gas pinpointing phase 2
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 50%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Other Supporting Data) 50%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (General Engineering and Mineral & Mining Engineering) 30%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 70%;
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 2019
End Date	01 October 2019
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£132,000
Industrial Sectors	Energy
Region	Yorkshire & Humberside
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (100.000%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (0.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_NGN_235
Objectives	Concerns were originally raised by the Northern Gas Networks regarding the existing Barholing device due to:- Risk of injury to the operator due to large force propagation through the shoulders during impact;- Safety risk to the public due to risk of spike rebounding;During the Option Study it was established that both the Dead Blow Barholer and the Drop Hammer method could offer a number of advantages over the existing device. The final design will combine these solutions and will have a number of unique features. The final solution will be a combination of these two concepts. It is estimated that each final production unit will be slightly more expensive than the existing solution, however the added safety benefits could provide value for money.For a full report of Phase 1 of the project, including a description of each of the concepts and a basic cost analysis, please refer to the Alternative Gas Pinpointing phase 1 (NIA_NGN_219) This project is phase two of a three phase project:During Phase 1 of the project (NIA_NGN_219), the Frazer-Nash Consultancy design team conducted a Requirements Capture of the current Barholing technique. This provided an agreed set of requirements which fed into an Option Study which considered new methods of Barholing. Each of the concepts were appraised using Pugh analysis and stakeholder input. A final solution which combined the features of the Dead Blow Barholer and Drop Hammer concepts was decided upon. The next stage of the design development process is to enter Phase 2, the Concept Design phase. This will be split into two parts containing:Phase 2a – Product Definition• Product Specification Document• Field Testing of existing Barholer• High Level Concept Design • Develop Commercialisation and Engagement Strategy Interim Review MeetingPhase 2b – Concept Design• Design Analysis• Prototype Design• Prototype Manufacture & Testing• Design Justification Report• Commercial Partner EngagementAfter success in Phase 1 of the project, it is suggested that Phase 2 is once again conducted in collaboration between the design team and end users. This blend of experience and expertise will help develop the prototype against the agreed requirements.Out of scope for this projectAfter completion of Phase 2, it is hoped the project would be in a position to enter Phase 3; the Detailed Design phase. The main output of this phase would be a final detailed design allowing for a production unit to be manufactured and fully field tested. This will be developed using a combination of analysis and learning from prototype testing. This work package is likely to consist of the following:Phase 3• Detailed Design Development• Safety Review• Structural Evaluation• Human Factors and Vibration Analysis• Manufacture Drawings• Further Develop Relationship with Commercialisation Partner (as defined by the outcome of the commercialisation strategy developed during Phase 2) The main objectives of Phase 2 of the project is to produce a prototype for testing and to initiate discussions with a commercial partner for final variant production. In order to complete this, there are a number of other related objectives which must be completed:• Capture the requirements that the solution must meet. This will be achieved using the Product Specification Document. This document will be reviewed by key stakeholders to ensure that the performance criteria of the solution are agreed upon.• Develop a commercialisation strategy and approach potential commercial partners.• Understand the benefits of the new solution. This will be achieved using before and after scenarios during field testing. Through collaboration with our specialist Noise & Vibrations team, we will be able to quantitatively capture the forces transferred to operators whilst through input from our Human Factors team, we will qualitatively understand the implications of the new solution for an FCO.• Justify the prototype design. This will be achieved using the Design Justification Report. All key design decisions will be captured and justified using a combination of analysis and testing.
Abstract	he current technique used by GD Networks for detecting the location of external gas escapes from buried assets is Barholing. The basic principle is to penetrate a small diameter hole into a footpath or carriageway, enabling gas samples to be taken from within the pavement structure. This is achieved using a pile driven pin, which has a barrel handle. Operatives carry out a number of penetrations in the general vicinity of the gas escape before subsequent gas samples are taken at subsurface level in order to pinpoint the source.The current tooling has not been reviewed or updated for the past 40 years and it has been identified that a new method is required. It is hoped that this will contribute to:• Reduce risk of injury to our engineers. • Reduce risk to members of the public.• Reduce time to pinpoint escaping gas. • Reduce noise from barholing.• Reduce risk of damaging third party equipment.• Reduce weight of equipment.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	09/11/22