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Research, Development & Demonstrationfor Pipeline Operations Funding Overview & Key Projects

Paul P. Gustilo Southwest Gas CorporationPaul.gustilo@swgas.com

2009 WRGC Tempe, AZ

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Discussion Topics

Role of Research Background - Natural Gas

Research Current State of Industry Funding RD&D Organizations Key Projects

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Role of RD&D for Natural Gas Operators

Decrease O&M and Capital costs Enhance safety, integrity, and

reliability Address pipeline safety regulations

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$0

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Year

Millions of $U.S.

1997 – 7 yr phase out began

GRI FERC Dollars

Background – Natural Gas Pipeline Research

Surcharge existed from 1975 – 2004(Storage, Transmission , Distribution, End-Use)

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Current State of Industry FundingDistribution (LDCs)

“Delta Funds”

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3

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6

7

8

91011

12

2

13

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Current State of Industry Funding

Interstate Pipeline Operating Budgets

Costs recovered through pipeline rates or covered by shareholders

Pipelines

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Other Funding

U.S. Department of Transportation – Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS)

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Primary Industry RD&D Consortiums

NYSEARCH, subsidiary of Northeast Gas Association (NGA)

Operations Technology Development (OTD) Program, administered by GTI

Utilization Technology Development (UTD) Program, administered by GTI (End-Use Program)

Distribution (LDCs)

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Primary Industry RD&D Consortiums

Pipeline Research Council, International (PRCI)

Gas Machinery Research Council (GMRC)

Pipelines

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ILI for Unpiggable Pipe

• Inspection robot for 6” – 8” pipe

• Wireless/battery operated

• 1.5 mile range

• Gas flow not interrupted

NYSEARCH Project

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Live inspection robot for 20” – 26” pipe up to 750 psig

Wireless/battery operated ~ 3 mile range

MFL Sensor

ILI for Unpiggable Pipe

NYSEARCH Project

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ASME Project - Hardness Testing

OTD Project -Small Pipe Coupons

24,000 SMYS

42,000 SMYS

Diameter: 12”Operating

Stress30% SMYS

Operating Stress17%

Wall Thickness: ¼”

Pressure: 300 psig

Determining Pipe Strength Through Sub-Size Samples

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Determining Pipe Strength Through Sub-Size Samples

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Defect

Depth

Defect Length

Guided Wave Detection

Pressure Test Detection

Threshold?

Guided Wave vs. Pressure Testing

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Corrosion Rate Estimation

Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) Probe and

Readout Box

Electric Resistance (ER) Probe and Readout Box

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Corrosion Rate Estimation

Duration (Day)

Corrosion Rate (mils per year)

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Corrosion Rate EstimationPit

rate

(m

ils/y

ear)

Resistivity (ohm-cm)

Various models for estimating corrosion rate

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Corrosion Rate Estimation

Web based program developed to estimate local corrosion rate

Output of program Point rating of soil corrosion potential based

on AWWA guideline Estimate of corrosion potential of

“unprotected” and “protected” pipe List of corrosion rate values in same state

with similar soil resistivity values (based on NIST database)

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Corrosion Rate Estimation

Sample Output

Average “Unprotected-pipe” corrosion rate is estimated to be about 7.18 mpy

Average “protected-pipe” corrosion rate is estimated to be about 0.10 mpy

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Leak vs. Rupture Boundary

Examples of code sections imposing more stringent requirements for higher stress lines

Research project objective is to further quantify/evaluate appropriate SMYS level boundaries

Section of Code Topic

§192.309Repair of steel pipe –dents (40% or more of SMYS)

§192.241

Inspection and test of welds - NDE requirements (< 40% SMYS)

§192.711 General repair of transmission lines (at or above 40% SMYS)

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Keyhole Technology

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Pipe Splitting

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Pipe SplittingAverage Pavement Restoration Required per

Linear Foot of Pipe Replacement

3.8

1.8

1.2

0.50

0.5

1

1.5

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2.5

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3.5

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4.5

Sq

ua

re F

oo

tag

e o

f P

av

em

en

t

Open Trench

Directional Bore

Split & Pull

Split & Pull w/Keyhole

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Timberline PE Repair Tool/Patch

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Acoustic Pipe Locator

Scan Distance (Inches)

Echo Time

(msec)

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PA 11/12

PA 11 now approved for use under 192 (limited to 125 psig)

PA 12 pending approval

Can operate up to 200 psig w/design factor change

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Biogas Acceptance Guidelines

Number and

Energy Productio

n from Operating Manure Digesters

From GTI Draft Guidance Document

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Biogas Acceptance GuidelinesPotential for Biogas Production and Methane Reduction in US

From GTI Draft Guidance Document

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Summary

A lot of RD&D Activity within LDC community

SWG involved, primarily through OTD and NYSEARCH

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Summary

RD&D Resources NYSEARCH, www.nysearch.org OTD, www.otd-co.org PRCI, www.prci.org GMRC, www.gmrc.org PHMSA, http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd