Synthotech Service Relay Initiative

Reference Number

NIA_SGN0001

Title

Synthotech Service Relay Initiative

Status

Completed

Energy Categories

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

Research Types

Applied Research and Development

Science and Technology Fields

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation

Not Cross-cutting

Principal Investigator

Project Contact
SGN

Award Type

Network Innovation Allowance

Funding Source

Ofgem

Start Date

01 January 2011

End Date

01 April 2014

Duration

39 months

Total Grant Value

£115,939

Industrial Sectors

Energy

Region

South East

Programme

Network Innovation Allowance

Investigators

Principal Investigator

Project Contact, SGN

Web Site

Objectives

The objectives of the project are to:

Reduce the interruption time for customers requiring a service relay
Reduce the cost of relaying a service to provide better value to the customer
Reduce and where possible eliminate the amount of excavation and reinstatement required
Reduce the impact on the customer by reducing the quantity of services requiring meter boxes and copper work pipe reruns after relaying a service.
Increase productivity by reducing the time taken to relay a gas service.

Expected Benefits:The successful development of the Serviflex system will provide positive environmental benefits with a reduction in the number of excavations required, the time taken and the impact on the customer. In order to ensure that this project is a success, the progress will be evaluated at the end of each project milestone. SGN’s project manager will assess the outputs of each milestone upon completion before approving progress to the next stage. The success criteria for the project are to determine the extent to which the following targets are met by Serviflex system:

Have a tool that will relay a service from an internal meter position using live insertion techniques
Have a tool that will be able to insert ¾” steel services
Eliminate the need to excavate to relay a gas service where ever possible
Reduction in the amount of excavation required and the amount of material sent to landfill
A reduction in the quantity of third party damages caused due to the reduction in excavation taking place
Reduction in average interruption time by 30%.

Abstract

SGN have been allowed a total of £1,804. 1m for REPEX operations throughout RIIO-GD1 to replace the ageing metallic low pressure gas network and the associated service pipes. The relaying of a domestic service can be carried out using a number of methods, which can cause significant disruption to customers. Serviflex is a corrugated dual wall liner that when used with specialist installation equipment can negotiate tight radius bends without compromising the design life of the material. This method of relaying a service greatly reduces the amount of disruption caused, the time it takes to relay the service and the cost to SGN. Serviflex has been in use since the mid 1990s for the renovation of gas service pipes. The principle of operation is to avoid the need to relocate the gas meter from inside the property to a suitable external position. Serviflex has been used with great success to relay services, but in its current form can only be used on services 1" in diameter or greater and only after the service has been decommissioned. This project focuses on extending the use of Serviflex to cover " services and to develop a method of inserting a service without decommissioning it. The potential cost savings can vary depending on the length of service and the method that would currently be used to relay the new service i. e. ground mole or open cutting. Furthermore, the amount of copper work required to reconnect the customer also plays a large part in the labour resource, the materials required and ultimately the disruption to the customer.

The first part of this project (started under IFI) focuses on extending the use of Serviflex for replacement of 3/4" service pipes using the existing Serviflex pipe. A programme of development was put in place including, modification of installation equipment, performance testing of installed pipe, development and testing of a suitable annular gap sealant. Some initial development work has been undertaken by Synthotech which has provided positive results from insertions into and through " tight radius bend. The second part of this project (also started under IFI) investigates extending the use of Serviflex to enable 1" live service insertion. This will follow standard live insertion methodology but will enable replacement from the existing meter position direct to the main connection (subject to maximum permitted insertion lengths). If successful this will eliminate the cost and environmental impact of excavation and subsequent reinstatement as well as greatly reducing the impact on the customer and general public. The work carried out under IFI to date has covered the following milestones:

Milestone 1 - Development of Specifications and ProceduresDevelopment of theoretical method statement/instructions. Gap analysis between current practice/procedure/equipment. Development of a specific Serviflex insertion specification for testing. Development of parameters and scope of the project.
Milestone 2 - Feasibility StudyEvaluate the gap analysis and identify possible solutions. Complete a cost benefit analysis about Serviflex insertion. Evaluate the parameters and scope of the project against anticipated probability.
Milestone 3 - Parts and Equipment Design FolderConcept design for installation equipment, annular sealant and connection fittings to existing networkProcedure of operation.
Milestone 4 - Manufacture of prototype parts
Milestone 5 - System testing75mbar with a safety factor of 2. Dynamic testing of insertion parts. The final stage of this project will be funded from SGN’s Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) and will address the following areas for both parts of this project:
Milestone 6 - Review of data and design folder and field trial Field trial of developed products across SGN’s three networks. Concept review. Parts review. Procedural review.

Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

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Added to Database

14/12/18