High-Precision and Four-Dimensional Tracking System with Dual Receivers of Pipeline Inspection Gauge

Yue Long,Wenzhi Wang,Lisha Peng,Songling Huang,Wei Zhao,Shen Wang

doi:10.3390/app11083366

Abstract

Pipeline inspection gauges (PIGs) are widely used for nondestructive testing of oil and natural gas pipelines, while above ground markers (AGMs) can locate and track the PIG through a variety of methods, including magnetic flux leakage signals, acoustic signals, and extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic signals. Traditional AGMs have the disadvantages of low positioning accuracy and only one-dimensional tracking capability. In this paper, a newly-designed PIG tracking system based on the ELF magnetic field is proposed by assembling dual receivers. Moreover, this paper develops a magnetic field sign-integration algorithm to achieve high-precision and four-dimensional (4-D) tracking of PIG. The simulation and experiment results demonstrate that the tracking system has the capability of 4-D tracking. In comparison with the previously published work, the designed tracking system improves the positioning accuracy and orientation tracking accuracy by more than 50%. The dual receivers tracking system also has the characteristic of high-robustness. Even in the state of lateral offset or tilt, it can still achieve accurate tracking of PIG. The realization of PIG’s high-precision 4-D tracking can improve the accuracy of defect location. Moreover, it can also provide the latest pipeline network layout and facilitate pipeline maintenance and pipeline surveying applications.

Highlights

Pipelines are widely used in oil and natural gas transportation projects
It can be found that the pitch angle and the lateral offset are all calculated out, the measured magnetic field is compensated and tracking of the degrees of freedom (DOF) x, y, z and pitch angle are all achieved
The traditional above ground markers (AGMs) for tracking Pipeline inspection gauges (PIGs) have the disadvantages of low positioning accuracy and single tracking dimension

Summary

Introduction

Pipelines are widely used in oil and natural gas transportation projects. Because pipelines are buried underground for a long time, they may be corroded [3], even with the typical corrosion prevention techniques (coating, cathodic protection, etc.) [4]. Under the effect of stress–strain, corrosion on the pipe wall gradually evolves into defects [5]. The further development of defects may lead to leakage incidents of the oil or gas, which may cause economic losses and environmental pollution [6]. Based on a series of nondestructive testing technologies such as magnetic flux leakage (MFL) detection [7], eddy current testing [8] and ultrasonic testing [9], the pipeline inspection gauge (PIG) can be developed to detect and evaluate pipeline defects

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion