Pipeline Safety and Integrity Monitoring Technologies Assessment

The project focused on assessing emerging and close-to-market technologies that improve the prediction of pipeline performance, monitor threats, and reduce operation costs for the natural gas pipelines in California. This project:

• Assessed the status of transmission and distribution natural gas pipeline safety and integrity management practices.
• Identified various emerging technologies through surveys, technologies searches, and industrywide metrics such as technology readiness levels.
• Determined development gaps, estimated projects benefits, and related technology transfer requirements.
• Provided California natural gas operators with a Web-based program and database to access the status and applicability of the technologies.
• Helped implement and commercialize close-to-market technologies through field

demonstrations at utility sites. The project covered a broad area of pipeline technologies and addressed the various causes of pipeline incidents. The technologies included damage prevention, pipeline inspection and monitoring of threats, integrity management, and risk assessment. The project team reviewed more than 200 referenced sources and literature reviews; obtained feedback from the technical advisory committee, including California natural gas utilities and technology developers; and obtained feedback through a stakeholder public workshop.
The research team selected several technologies for field demonstrations based on quantifiable measures for improved safety and operations efficiency; the maturity of the technology and demonstrated capabilities; and coordination with the California gas utilities to support their safety and operation requirements.