Development of AC OHL survey system and evaluation of ER probes

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
National Grid Gas Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 October 2009

01 February 2014

52 months

£335,000

Technical Consultancy

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Gas Transmission

The desired result is that the project deliver a suitable over line AC survey system, that when implemented, will enable the improved detection and assessment of AC-induced corrosion in gas pipelines, thereby reducing the likelihood of leakage or failure though this particular corrosion process. Development of a suitable device that can be used to perform AC corrosion survey and a system/process for its operation across the National Transmission System.

AC corrosion has been documented in the UK, mainland Europe and North America. Through-wall failures have been recorded and corrosion rates as high as 1. 4 mm/yr calculated. Critically, these pipelines were not shown to have any defects during conventional DC close intervals protection surveys (CIPS). Increasing installation of power lines, rail transit systems and improvements to pipeline coating quality will all continue to increase AC corrosion instances. The project method is split into two key strands. The first is the development of a suitable over line AC survey system that will be used for the initial identification of areas where the levels of AC interference on pipelines may require mitigating action. There are three stages to this as follows: Stage 1 - Market survey Stage 2 - Provide and evaluate candidate device/system including trial the system on suitable pipelines Stage 3 - Knowledge dissemination and implementation presented to industry group The second part of the project is the quantification AC corrosion rate on pipelines also involving three stages: Stage 1: Identification of probes suitable for measurement of AC corrosion rates Stage 2 : Laboratory evaluation Stage 3: Field evaluation of corrosion monitoring devices identified during the laboratory evaluationNote : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

09/08/18