Acoustic Pipe Locator (APL)

Commercial Product

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Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Pipe Locating

The APL pipe locator is a hand-held device which sends an acoustic signal into the ground and detects reflection from the pipe at the ground level. The technology provides the ability to locate plastic pipes at depths up to five feet. As part of the research for this development, a PHMSA-funded project developed an algorithm for improved locating of pipes without tracer wire.

The technology addresses the industry need to detect and locate buried underground natural gas pipes, particularly plastic pipes. Most of the current electro-magnetic locating technologies are based on the detection of metallic pipes. Few current technologies address plastic pipes buried without, or with damaged, tracer wires commonly used to identify pipe locations.

Increased Safety - Plastic pipes buried a few feet under the ground are subject to excavation damages resulting in leaks and failures. This technology provides a method for detecting and locating these pipes.

Greater Reliability -

- SENSIT Technologies, www.gasleaksensors.com
- PHMSA, https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=365