Pipeline Defense With Combined Vibration, Earth Movement, and Current Sensing

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration2019PDFTech ReportRobertson, AnnmarieHall, SamZiolkowski, ChristopherDroessler, MaureenMarros, RobertGas Technology InstituteUnited States. Department of Transportation. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety AdministrationUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety AdministrationUnited StatesPipelinesSeismicitySensorsStructural health monitoringVibrationPromoting SafetyDTPH5615T00020LFinal ReportThe objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of a pipeline right-of-way (ROW) defense system based on stationary sensors mounted on, or adjacent to, the pipeline. The sensor data from multiple locations along the pipe will be wirelessly forwarded to a central location for further analysis. Analytics residing at a central location will correlate the data from multiple sensors to alert operators to events of interest occurring in the ROW with minimal latency. The proposed methodology is to apply sophisticated analytics based on Causal Bayesian Networks to data captured from multiple sensor types and locations within the ROW. The ability to simultaneously capture distinct categories of data from multiple locations will allow these analytics to more positively identify when an event of interest is occurring on the ROW. The following sensor types will be examined during the course of the proposed work: 1) Acoustic vibration sensors mounted directly on the pipe to detect approaching threats or impacts to the pipe, 2) Strain gauges mounted directly on the pipe to determine changes in compressive or tensile stresses, 3) Current sensors in metallic contact with the pipe to measure induced or cathodic protection currents, and 4) Seismic or earth movement sensors in the soil adjacent to the pipe to determine the presence of earthquakes, subsidence, or washout events. The data storage, data analytics, and user interface will be cloud hosted so as to be available to sponsors and field test operators. It is anticipated the one or more gas utility operators will provide test sites.119