Impact of Project/Technology on Technological Advancement to Gas Industry:
Phase I focused on a pipe and repair sensor system for liquid petroleum-based pipeline systems. Phase II will expand the sensor system for use with natural gas. Once developed, the pipe/repair sensor network is expected to help operators continuously monitor the “health” of the pipeline system and to detect leaks. Other commercial applications will include gasoline stations, oil storage facilities, methane plants, oil and gas transportation, and off-shore oil rigs.
To date, there has been industry interest in the sensor SLEEVE™ but it has not yet been commercialized. The technology developers noted that “regulation alone is largely responsible for the adoption of their products, at any price.” They also wrote: “Without a focus on all three - technology, people and procedures - a single ‘weak link’ can render the overall system useless. In particular even very simple technologies can be very effective, if they are backed up by highly skilled operators and well-designed procedures.”