Millennium Projects

Technical Details

Millennium Project Number: M-2006-002

Project Title: Butt Fusion Joint Integrity Evaluation and NDE Technologies

Project Start Date: 2007

Projected End Date: 2009

Technical Details:

The program objective is to improve and/or validate the butt fusion process by developing analytical solutions and new test approaches to ensure the safe long-term performance of polyethylene (PE) butt fusion joints. Industry and government representatives cited "Improving Joint Integrity and Assessment for Non-metallic Materials" as one of their top priorities. The program has been approved and received DOT/PHMSA funding. The NYSEARCH managed project, involves GTI as the performance laboratory and additional co-funding from OTD. In addition, several NDE manufacturers/service companies have agreed to provide in-kind support.

The program will address the need to fully asses the PE butt fusion process by: 1) Improving existing fusion procedures, particularly with respect to long-term performance, 2) Investigating and making recommendations to improve the state-of-the-art NDE technologies to determine good quality butt fusion joints from defective ones, and, 3) Providing assurances that the findings and improvements identified in this program are accepted by the gas industry a task group of experts, including PPI, OPS and AGA.

View Funding for Millennium Project M-2006-002