PhotonFix (Seeker Particles - Stage 3)

Completed

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

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 July 2016

01 July 2018

24 months

£618,300

Technical Consultancy

South East

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, SGN

The specific objectives for Stage 3 are: Design and manufacture test bed suitable for 12" to 24" pipes. Optimise the specification of the sealants to be used in the field. Optimise the specification of a field ready UV light. Optimise the specification for sealant application tooling to be integrated with the preferred robotic deployment platform in Stage 4 of the project. This will ideally be the CIRRIS Robotic Platform developed under SGNs NIC project. Assess the performance of the chosen sealants under using the test rig. The success criteria for the project are as follows: Define the sealant(s) specificationDefine the specification for integration into the robotic platformDefine the specification for the field ready UV lightOutline requirements of relevant standards and accreditation for the sealant within the Gas industry. Confirm applications where the sealant can be used throughout the network.

From the 1850’s up until the 1950’s cast iron mains were used extensively across the Great British (GB) gas distribution network. Since then the gas industry has moved away from this material and is using steel and polyethylene. However a significant portion of cast iron is still in use today. At present across Scotia Gas Networks (SGN), there are some 20,000 kilometres (km) of metallic mains that are ageing, requiring inspection, repair or replacement. Extensive investigation, has demonstrated that the majority of larger diameter tier 3 mains (18-48" diameter) are less likely to fail through cracks and fractures, and more likely to leak from the existing joints and other features such as cotter plates, redundant service connections, dome plugs and riser leaks. In the past Network Licensees would either fully replace these ageing assets, which is a high cost activity or aim to maintain them prolonging the asset life. To date the options available to repair large diameter joints have been limited to the use of mechanical joint clamps, encapsulation, or injection of anaerobic sealant into jute packing. While cheaper than full replacement, these repair techniques have a number of disadvantages including the costs incurred due to significant excavations and material requirements, and considerable disruption to SGN customers. Following on from the successful completion of Stages 1 and 2 (SGN NIA 0012 - Seeker Particle and SGN NIA 0050 - Seeker Particle Stage 2) the engineering optimisation of joint/feature sealants and sealant delivery systems of metallic mains will be carried out. Stage 3 will take the liquid based sealants and UV curing process that was conceived under Stage 2 through development to field trial readiness. This programme of work focuses on detailed testing of the product and the sealing method. To do this it has been split up into 11 discrete Work Packages (WP) under 4 broad headings. Group 1: Harnessing Technical Capability and KnowledgeSealant Supply ChainDeployment Methodology (Integration into Robotics Platform, CIRRIS)Fitness for PurposeGroup 2: Optimisation and Lifecycle TestingDesign and Build of Test BedSealant Application TestingJoint Pressure TestingLifecycle TestingGroup 3: Next StepsAdditional ApplicationOptimised SpecificationOffsite Trial PhaseGroup 4: ReportingProject Management & ReportingUpon completion of Stage 3, the project will have the PhotonFix sealant technique tested and optimised. This will be for a range of applications and the specification for full integration into CIRRIS Robotic platform which has been conceptually designed under stage 2 of the project.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

09/10/18