OUR SOLUTION
“A combination of in-house cloud based software and hardware IoT linked solutions that communicate with our analyst, to both monitor pig passage and to keep the field and network control users aware of speed, distance and estimated arrival time, using a portal available to our clients on any connected device.”
‘More is More'
We come from a survey background and know that redundancy is key in any measurement task. We therefore aim to ensure that where possible we have a wide enough array of sensors deployed that we have more than one measurement option at any time during passage, the range of sensors our analysts have at their disposal allows a deployment design that allows for this.
HOW?
We deploy multiple sensors along the pipeline, both directly on the pipeline at access points and using above ground ‘No Dig’ sensors and calibration passing sensors, with the aim of introducing redundancy into the sensor array.
We operate as a 1-3 person team (All SCO and SHEA(Gas) trained, with relevant STCs) dependent on pipeline length, with a static analyst operating from our self sufficient tracking vehicle (usually the receive location) taking in all the remote data streams and verifying the combination of tracking data being received. Our field operative will deploy and move equipment as required and act as a roving sensor that the analyst can request data from if required.
The pigging client receives live real-time data via our secure tracking portal either in the field via mobile device or from a desktop browser, where specific passing requirements need to be met for network configuration changes, our analyst can be in direct contact with the lead engineer or these can be received via push notifications to the tracking application.
‘Remote is Key’
To deliver value and reliability, we need to be able to deploy lots of equipment but keep our staffing costs down, therefore most hardware we develop enables us to operate it remotely so we can deploy remotely with a minimum team lowering cost and increasing accuracy.
SENSORS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING
The range of in-house tracking devices we currently deploy includes:
- Digital Long-Range Accelerometer Sensors and Analysers
- Pipe Based Remote Acoustic Sensors.
- Ground Based ‘No Dig’ Remote Acoustic Sensors
- Remote Peak Detection Units
- Magnetic and LF Transmitter Passing Sensors (dependent of fitted transmitter type) with Satellite Comms(Discrete Passing Indicator)
‘Save Everything’
Data retention is key not only for future development, but also allows us to virtually re-run a pigging operation, in the event of requiring finer location confirmation.
FAQs
Our range of sensors have capabilities to track from 2km to in excess of 30km from a single location, dependent on the sensor type and environment they are deployed into. We will deploy an array of sensors dependent on the pipeline and environment, with the aim to be able to track the pig from multiple sensors at any one time, meaning that the total pipeline length is not an issue.
In spiral weld pipeline we can indicate that the pig is moving and use our calibration locations to give sector speeds, but we are not able to provide weld to weld real-time speed updates.
All our equipment has a minimum running time of 48hrs, however all have ‘hot-swappable’ power solutions, which allow our field operative to keep the equipment running for longer periods.
The limits of our current solution are between ~1m/s and ~10m/s, while we can track outside of these specifications and also identify stoppages, the levels of energy transmitted by the pig make accurate weld to weld timing difficult. This is generally outside the scope of where an ILI Intelligent tool is required to run, but if this is known to be the planned case, we can discuss mitigating equipment.
There is a secure web-portal that runs on all connected devices smartphones - desktops that allows clients operatives to gain access to real-time speed, distance, position and estimated arrival time.
‘Never Stop Innovating’
The tech world is an exciting place at the moment, we aim to constantly re-evaluate our hardware and software stacks to new available technologies, we’ve already got our eyes on… AI, Mesh networks, WebRTC, 5G, Serverless Architectures.
RECENT UPDATES
We are constantly evolving our equipment, to improve reliability and to head towards supporting our analyst with further sources of automated speed analysis to aid in their data confirmation.
Automate
Gain Control
Our newest acoustic sensor transmitters now have this functionality enabling them to track fully on the approach, pass and behind the pig, even with large changes in signal/noise ratios during these different phases. Were currently also exploring their use as automated passing / proximity sensors for both our ‘No Dig’ and pipeline fixed sensor rigs.
Digital Signal Transmission and Backup
All our remote sensors now transmit via digital cloud broadcasts, greatly reducing the bandwidth required and hence increasing the range of locations we can deploy to including using satellite only data broadcast. As part of this development we are also now storing all acoustic and accelerometer data in the cloud in real-time, increasing the security of the data.
Machine Learning Signal Interpretation
Using statistical digital signal interpretation to allow machine learning algorithms to interpret whether a signal peak is a weld pass, increasing the accuracy of our peak detection solution.
‘Build on the Shoulders of Giants’
To move fast and learn we keep a keen eye on where we can use and enhance developed technologies from other sectors or our internal projects; in our solutions.