The Keystone Pipeline has generated an incredible amount of controversy with environmentalists. They are concerned that if the pipeline were to burst, the resulting oil spill would destroy wildlife and the ecosystem. In reality, oil pipelines can spring a leak that may not be detected in time to stop and repair the leak. It is possible the ground water will be polluted with undrinkable water. There are built in safeguards but extensive studies haven’t mollified the concern among some.
Visual Inspection
The last pipeline break occurred in 1979. Back then the pipeline was visually inspected by aircraft or by land vehicles. It was a tedious, time-consuming process that could only be conducted on a limited basis. The industry needed to find a better way to inspect pipelines.
Sensors Provide Frequent Inspections
Placing sensors along the wall of the pipeline was too expensive and could still miss breaks that might occur. The solution was to place the sensors, telemetry recording equipment, and gyros for stabilization, into a solid cylindrical device.
This dynamic measurements tool(DMS) is called a “pig” and is inserted into the pipeline to travel with the oil flow to detect various measurements and record where the “blips” occur. The pig is removed and the data is examined and compared with previous data to detect changes in the condition of the wall of the pipe.
The beauty of this package is that the gyro sensors record the pig’s orientation and motion in the pipeline on a dynamic basis. The pig can be reused and the data is accurate and reliable.
The Canadian Experience
This device allows frequent inspections that will ensure timely action should a leak occur. Two leaks were detected in Canada before the oil could harm the environment. Environmentalists are still not happy with this record but news reports did admit the timely action protected the environment.
Alaska Pipeline
The dynamic measurements done by pigs helped to ensure the stellar safety record of the northern pipeline. The pig data can even show potential problems so repairs can be done before the break occurs. The extreme weather conditions in Alaska demonstrate the viability of using a gyro-sensor system to measure and detect conditions within the pipeline.
Conclusion
Using an automated gyro sensor to perform routine inspections not only helps protect the environment, but it is cheaper and error free when compared to human visual inspection routines.
Watson Industries has been producing gyro products since 1990. Applications from the aerospace industry to land and marine sensors use Watson’s reliable and durable instruments. For more information, visit us.
