NYSEARCH Publications
2011 Report

NYSEARCH technical briefs for natural gas research, development and deployment of projects for member gas companies throughout the United States and Canada.

I.   Pipeline/Transmission Integrity
          Cased and Straight
          General

II.  Distribution Integrity
          Leak Detection
          Inspection
          Damage Prevention
          Advances in Plastic Pipe & Non-Destructive Evaluation
          Best Methods for Operations and Maintenance

III. Gas Quality

IV.  Environment

V.   Special Areas
     

     

I. Pipeline/Transmission Integrity
   Cased and Straight
     1.  TIGRE:  A Large Diameter Robotic System for the Inspection of Unpiggable Natural Gas Pipelines Using an MFL Sensor

     2.  Robotics:  Development of Technologies to Support Robotic Systems for the Inspection of Unpiggable Natural Gas Pipelines

     3.  Explorer 6/8: A Robotics System for the Inspection of 6" - 8" Unpiggable Pipelines.

     4.  Transkor's Magnetic Tomography Method (MTM):  Testing Program for Remote Inspection using Magnetic Tomography

     5.  Annular Space Direct Inspection Robot: Development of Mini-Camera for Inspection Inside Cased Crossings

     6.  Cased Pipe Inspection via Vents:  A tethered camera for cased pipe inspection using vent pipes

     7.  Third Party Cased Pipe Risk Assessment Model:  A risk-based model in spreadsheet and commercial software form to aid           users in defensible decision-making for prioritizing assessment, monitoring or other actions on cased pipe segments.

    General
     1.  Test Bed - Design, Construction & Operation:  An above and below ground pipeline network with engineered features for testing
          a variety of pipeline integrity technologies

     2.  Multi-Technology Validation Testing for Cased Pipe Applications:  A collective program validating guided wave inspection and           demonstrating other available technologies for live cased pipe inspection

     3. Interactive Threats:  The project is defining and prioritizing interacting threats that impact pipeline integrity.  Once consensus is          reached, a more robust treatment of interactive threats will be incorporated in the Kiefner/NYGAS Risk Model and information will be          provided to upgrade other risk models.

II. Distribution Integrity

    Leak Detection
     1.  Mercaptans Instrument for Odorant Characterization in Gas Mains: Highly sensitive mercaptans instrument based on a           combination of differential mobility spectroscopy and gas chromatography to achieve very low levels of detection.

     2.  Methane MR Sensor Development Program: Low cost, highly accurate and reliable micro-resonator-based methane and           natural gas sensor

     3.  Leak Detection System Using PFT Analysis: An instrument that uses perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) compounds to help pinpoint           difficult-to-locate gas pipeline leaks.

    Inspection
     1.  Explorer 6/8: A Robotics System for the Inspection of 6" - 8" Unpiggable Pipelines.

     2.  Large Variable Geometry Crawler (LVGC): A robotic internal inspection device for 20" - 48" gas pipelines.

     3.  Small Variable Geometry Crawler (SVGC): A robotic internal inspection device for 12" - 16" gas pipelines.


    Damage Prevention
     1.  Advanced PipeGuard^TM, Development of an Acoustic Damage Prevention System: An acoustic pipeline monitoring system           that will warn pipeline operators of impending damage to pipelines.

     2.  Handheld Pipe Locator:  An alternative locate tool using ground pentrating radar (GPR) and providing real-time image identification           to mark out underground plastic pipes and other facilities.  

     3.  Advanced PIGPEN: Infrasound frequency sensor system for monitoring third party damage.  A buried, wireless infrasonic sensor           system which forewarns, identifies and locates potential third party threats to pipelines.   

     4.  Advanced Video Surveillance System: Development of Advanced Video Surveillance Kit that has the ability to detect excavating           equipment typically used by third party excavators that could potentially damage a pipeline. The Alpha prototype develpment is           complete.

    Advances in Plastic Pipe & Non-Destructive Evaluation
     1.  Butt Fusion Repair Sleeve (BFRS) for PE Pipe: An electrofusion fitting to reinforce defective polyethylene (PE) pipe joints

     2.  NDE Ultrasonic Inspection System for PE Butt Fusion Joints: Development of an NDE Ultrasonic Inspection System for PE Butt           Fusion and Electrofusion Joints

     3.  Evaluation of PE Rapid Crack Propagation (RCP): Creating rapid crack propagation in PE pipe to determine the influence of pipe           materials, diameter and wall thickness RCP resistance on modern day PE pipe.

     4.  Butt Fusion Joint Integrity and NDE Evaluation: Comprehensive testing to validate butt fusion process for safe long-term           performance.

     5.  PE Piping Standards - Outdoor Storage: Updating ASTM D2513 as a comprehensive material performance-based standard           exclusively for polyethylene pipe.

     6.  Variable Length Fusion Repair Sleeve (VLRS) for PE Pipe: Variable Length Repair Sleeve (VLRS) is an electrofusion fitting to           repair long gouges or scratches in polyethylene (PE) pipe.


    Better Methods for Opeations and Maintenance
     1.  Ergonomic Tools Evaluation/Development Program: A comprehensive review and evaluation program to evaluate and develop           ergonomic tools for gas operations.

     2.  Service Tee Renewal:  Project will develop a method to trenchlessly seal a service tee by gaining internal access to the tee and           applying a sealant to existing or potential leaks.

     3. Advanced Plastic Pipe for Natural Gas Applications, Next Generation:  A project dedicated to using new materials technology          towards the development of the next generation of plastic pipe and self-healing for natural gas piping applications.

     4. Distribution Integrity Management Planning (DIMP) | Holistic Review of Risk Assessment Practices & Tools for
         Application:  Project defined the necessary elements of gas companies to assess risk in the context of cost effective
         implementation of DIMP.  

III. Gas Quality
     1.  Odor Masking:  A study to investigate and determine the primary conditions that could cause changes in perception or intensity of           odor that comes from odorant that is added to methane to mark its presence.

     2.  Gas Interchangeability Study for LDC Infrastructure Integrity:  A comprehensive, materials and components study of the effects           of varying gas compositions on the performance of natural gas distribution system infrastructure components. Also known as GIX for           Couplings.

     3.  Gas Interchangeability Study for Installed Residential Appliances:  A comprehensive, geographically diverse study that           determines the impacts of varying gas compositions on performance of installed residential appliances. Also known as GIX for           Residential  Appliances.

IV. Environment
     1.  Pipeline to Ultra-Clean Generation Energy Recovery Generation (ERG): Development and evaluation of power generation           through gate station's existing pressure reduction process making efficient use of energy capacity within the pipeline.

     2.  Soil Vapor Intrusion: Study of soil vapor intrusion associated with manufactured gas plants (MGPs). A characterization of MGP tar           vapors to determine the compounds specific to MGP tar so extensive and intrusive customer sampling can be minimized.

     3. Carbon Calculator Spreadsheet Tool:  Development of a carbon calculator tool to compare greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for          various construction and maintenance activities. NYSEARCH and the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) have          partnered to address areas in pipeline construction and gas operations.

     4. Expanding the Functions of No-Blow Tools: Develop a No-Blow Tool Kit to eliminate venting gas in most low pressure routine gas          work for 4"-12" pipelines.

     5. Management of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Impacted Sediments:  A program to establish a new analytical method           for measuring PAHs in sediments near manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites with greater accuracy and validity.

     6. Automated Gas Lamp Controls - Independent Testing & Field Test Evaluation:  A product development and field testing program          on the automation of sensors and controls of mantle-type gas lamps.

V.   Special Areas
     1.  Oracle: Technology Identification and Transfer Program for the Development of New State-of-the-Art Technologies for           the Natural Gas Industry: An on-going program that has already resulted in a number of projects

     2.  Technology Transfer Improvements: A process to assist companies in successful transition of new technologies from the R&D           phase to end users.

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