Skipper NDT selected as finalist for the Innovation Award for the second consecutive year

Skipper NDT has been selected for the second consecutive year as a finalist for the Innovation Award at the PPIM 2026 Conference, recognizing its unique capability to locate a pipeline buried 100 ft (30 m) underwater with inch-level accuracy.

This paper presents recent advances in airborne magnetic inspection for the geospatial positioning of pipelines at river crossings. Such environments pose significant challenges for traditional inspection methods due to low visibility, strong tidal currents, and heavy surface traffic.

The study focuses on the detection and mapping of a 6-inch gas pipeline buried beneath the Houston Ship Channel. To address this challenge, Skipper NDT deployed its drone-mounted electromagnetic inspection solution, integrating magnetic measurements with high-precision GPS, IMU, and altimetry sensors. 

Through improvements in sensor configuration and signal-to-noise ratio optimization, the detection range was extended to 100 ft (30 m). These enhancements enabled the successful detection and accurate positioning of the pipeline despite the complex conditions of the site.