PIPELINE 3D-POSITIONING, PTC Berlin 2023

River crossings pose significant challenges for pipeline integrity management due to difficult access, operational risks, and limitations of traditional inspection methods such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and diver-based surveys. Skipper NDT has developed an autonomous drone-based magnetic mapping solution to accurately locate and monitor pipelines under water bodies without physical contact or operational disruption.

The system integrates fluxgate magnetometers, high-precision GNSS with PPP/PPK corrections, and an IMU, mounted on an unmanned aerial system (UAS). This technology enables rapid data acquisition—less than 30 minutes per 100 m of river crossing—and produces high-density datasets (up to 20 points per meter), allowing the creation of high-precision digital twins of buried pipelines. Proprietary algorithms process magnetic maps to compute 3D geolocation and assess Out-of-Straightness (OOS), providing insights beyond traditional depth-of-cover measurements.

Case Studies:

Three river crossings (160–220 m length, up to 12 m depth) were inspected in collaboration with GRTgaz. Results demonstrated:

• Accuracy within 15 cm and precision seven times higher than diver-based methods.

• Ability to detect pipeline curvature (up to 3 m offset), invalidating straight-line assumptions.

• Integration with bathymetric surveys and GIS platforms (QGIS, ArcGIS) for interactive 3D visualization.

Key Advantages:

• Fully automated, safe, and repeatable process.

• Rapid deployment for emergency response after extreme weather events.

• Compatible with ESRI® and GIS systems for advanced decision-making.

  
  

This innovative approach significantly enhances pipeline integrity management at river crossings, reducing operational risks and enabling proactive monitoring.