Millennium Projects
Technical Details
Millennium Project Number: M-2000-008
Project Title:Real Time Monitoring of Contact to Pipelines
Project Start Date: 2000
Projected End Date: 2006
Technical Details:
The objective of this project is to evaluate through field testing the use of acoustic sensors in monitoring when pipes are impacted by third parties. The challenge is to passively hear noise that is could cause damage to the pipe without signaling a response to environmental noise that is benign. Once a signal is registered, it is to be communicated through hardware or wireless means to a control center.
The project builds on five previous phases performed by Battelle Laboratories for the Gas Research Institute. Battelle has performed the basic research to determine that the concept will work in simulated environments and has characterized the acoustic signature from various threatening or damaging activities such as a backhoe scraping the pipe. Advanced signal processing is needed to distinguish the frequency of one type of noise from other noises such as compressor operation, above-ground traffic, even dogs barking. Battelle has advanced the signal processing capability but needs to do further work following more extensive tests in real field conditions. NYSEARCH has joined this effort as one of (10) natural gas utilities.
This project was concluded in 2006 after field testing. Sponsors decided that other advanced technologies held more promise.