Low-Cost Sensors for Natural Gas Pipeline Monitoring and Inspection

Under Development

University of California, Berkeley More »

California Energy Commission

Threats and Integrity Management -- Pipeline Testing, Analysis and Repair

Micro-electro-mechanical sensors (MEMS) were funded by the California Energy Commission and are low-cost solution to provide real-time data to monitor the pipeline integrity. Micro-fabrication techniques are used to produce small and inexpensive, but complex sensors to measure many relevant variables such as instantaneous gas pressure, gas flow velocity, humidity inside the pipe, and vibration of the pipe.

Common technologies for integrity management and diagnostic of pipeline flaws are intermittent and require data reporting or offline operations, which result in costly testing and/or disruption of service. Current off-the-shelf sensors are expensive, thus preventing ubiquitous deployment. The MEMS sensors provide small-scale inexpensive system for monitoring the various variables which provide indications of the health of the pipeline system.

Increased Safety - The low cost (less than $18 each) of the monitoring sensors can potentially provide a substantial reduction in monitoring costs, and allow a widespread deployment to provide real-time data such as changes in pressure and flow of natural gas.

Reduced Operations Cost - The sensors could also reduce operational and maintenance costs, especially by reducing shut off and inspection time.

Low-Cost Sensors for Natural Gas Pipeline Monitoring and Inspection, California Energy Commission, Report CEC-500-2014-104, Jan 2015.