Forced Resonance Imaging for 3-D Mapping of Underground Pipeline Assets

Abstract

Abstract Applications of a novel 3-D mapping and visualization technology for mapping underground natural gas plastic/metallic pipelines and improving pipeline assets management beyond the capability of other known technologies are presented. The developed technology is based on combining Radar and Forced-Resonance-Imaging (FRI) principles referred to as the Bakhtar Buried Pipe Detector (BPD) with its original platform developed under US Air Force SBIR programs referred to as “BakhtarRadar”. This extremely low-power (≤ 10 dBm) detection and volumetric imaging technology defines a new rapid and cost-effective approach that uses the ability of casing and related embedded contents to absorption of RF energy in certain quantum emission frequency bands as a means of determining their presence. Furthermore, it uses the absorbed energy to differentiate between buried metallic and plastic pipes and reconstruct 3-D volumetric images from buried targets. The above-ground survey is conducted by scanning the application-specific sensor head (FR antennae) over the area of interest at controlled speed rate of 5–30 centimeters per seconds depending on the buried pipeline size, collecting sub-surface data, detecting the buried pipeline location followed by constructing 3-D mapping volumetric images in a rapid succession. The results provide uniquely defined high-resolution information on location and alignment, depth, type (metallic and/or plastic pipes), and dimensional details of buried pipelines. The field calibration and blind testing at PG&E’s service territory demonstrate BPD’s capability of collecting, screening, analyzing, managing, as well as integrating pipeline location data from multiple sources, such as utility operators, locating service providers, etc.