Development of a monitoring tool for high pressure oil and gas pipelines.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
Ensuring that oil and gas pipelines remain free of blockages and leakage is a challenging problem and one with enormous financial ramifications. Research at the University of Manchester has led to the development and preliminary commercialisation of an acoustic based system for detecting blockages and leakage in pipelines filled with static gas. An important benefit of the technique is that it is non-invasive and only requires access to one end of the pipeline. The project proposed here will extend the technique further by developing a prototype system that will be suitable for liquid filled pipelines and pipelines containing flowing gas or liquid.
Organisations
- University of Manchester (Lead Research Organisation)
- Northern Gas Networks Ltd (Collaboration)
- Scotish Gas Networks (Collaboration)
- WALES & WEST UTILITIES LTD (Collaboration)
- National Grid UK (Collaboration)
- Pipeline Engineering Ltd (Project Partner)
- Associated British Ports (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Barry Lennox (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Wang X
(2011)
Detection of hydrate and other blockages in gas pipelines using acoustic reflectometry
in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science
| Description | Acoustic tools and data processing methods were identified that enabled acoustic signals to be used to detect the location of obstructions and holes in gas filled pipelines. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings are being used to develop acoustic instruments for monitoring pipelines across a number of industries. |
| Sectors | Energy,Transport |
| Description | The findings from this work have been used to develop new techniques for detecting and locating blockages in gas filled pipelines. This has led to the development of equipment and techniques that have been utilised extensively in the oil & gas industry. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Acoustic Monitoring of heat Exchanger Tubes |
| Amount | £62,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2011 |
| End | 11/2012 |
| Description | EPSRC |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | "UoM Specific Calls (KTA173, KTA161, KTA207, KTA125)" |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2011 |
| End | 11/2013 |
| Description | Energy Innovation Centre - Pipeline Monitoring |
| Amount | £423,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Energy Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2014 |
| End | 04/2016 |
| Description | Acoustek |
| Organisation | National Grid UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | All four gas companies contributed to the development of an acoustic probe for surveying gas distribution pipelines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and trials sites. |
| Impact | An acoustic probe is now being deployed on a prototype basis in the UK. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Acoustek |
| Organisation | Northern Gas Networks Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | All four gas companies contributed to the development of an acoustic probe for surveying gas distribution pipelines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and trials sites. |
| Impact | An acoustic probe is now being deployed on a prototype basis in the UK. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Acoustek |
| Organisation | Scotish Gas Networks |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | All four gas companies contributed to the development of an acoustic probe for surveying gas distribution pipelines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and trials sites. |
| Impact | An acoustic probe is now being deployed on a prototype basis in the UK. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Acoustek |
| Organisation | Wales & West Utilities Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | All four gas companies contributed to the development of an acoustic probe for surveying gas distribution pipelines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and trials sites. |
| Impact | An acoustic probe is now being deployed on a prototype basis in the UK. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Title | REMOTE PIPELINE ACOUSTIC INSPECTION |
| Description | Acoustic pipeline monitoring system |
| IP Reference | EP1448970 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2004 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | The licensed technology has been used on a commercial basis in the North Sea, SE Asia and US. |
| Title | Signal Processing Systems and Methods |
| Description | A signal processing technique to allow blockages to be detected in pipelines |
| IP Reference | P207083WO |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | None. |