World Pipelines Magazine, Geohazards are a potential threat

Monitoring Geohazard Risks on Pipelines with Skipper NDT

Geohazards such as landslides, sinkholes, and soil liquefaction pose significant threats to pipeline safety, especially in sensitive locations like river crossings. Climate change and evolving environmental conditions increase the risk of ground movement, making continuous monitoring essential.

Skipper NDTís Argos sensor system provides an innovative drone-based solution to assess pipeline mechanical integrity without interrupting operations. Using magnetometers and GNSS, the system collects high-resolution magnetic data to detect subtle changes in pipeline curvature, enabling early identification of potential geohazard-related deformation.

In a field trial with energy major Enbridge, Skipper NDTís drone data demonstrated excellent agreement with traditional ILI/IMU inspection results, accurately identifying vertical and horizontal cold bends and quantifying bending strain. Proprietary calibration and filtering processes ensure reliable data even in the presence of electromagnetic interference.

Skipper NDTís technology offers pipeline operators a fast, precise, and non-intrusive method to monitor geohazard risks, supporting safer and more efficient pipeline management.