AGM Survey & ILI Tool Tracking
PHMSA Regulated Transmission Pipeline: In-Line Inspection (ILI) Tool Tracking Services
BACKGROUND
A major natural gas operator in Florida has over 5,300 miles of interstate pipeline extending from south Texas through the Gulf Coast Region to south Florida. The transmission system receives natural gas from various onshore and offshore natural gas producing basins. Its’ capacity is 3.75Bcf/d and is the principal transporter of natural gas to the Florida energy market, delivering over 60% of the natural gas consumed in the state. The operators’ customers include electric utilities, independent power producers, industrial end-users and local distribution companies. The transmission system is regulated by PHMSA which requires regular maintenance and anomaly mapping at various times during the pipelines operation.
The Problem
Within the transmission network, the asset owner has a 73.5mi section of 24”/30” pipeline in Lake Charles, Louisiana which was scheduled for anomaly identification. The project plan was to launch both Geo & AMFL In-Line Inspection (ILI) tools with the purpose of identifying specific locations of anomalies in the pipeline. The operator had complaints about the previous survey/tracking contractor who was hired to track the ILI tools. The operator noted personnel costs were higher than anticipated and during the run the ILI tool was ‘lost’, with pig passage not being identified by a series of pre-set Above Ground Marker’s (AGM’s). A summary of the previous contractor’s performance is below:
- # of Personnel Mobilized: 16
- # of Above Ground Markers (AGM’s) placed: 74
- # of AGM’s missing the tool pass: 10+
The operator was frustrated with overall project cost and unreliable ILI tool tracking. There were instances where the AGM’s did not identify location of the pig so the operator feared the tools were lost or stuck.
The SOLUTION
Tulsa Inspection Resources (TIR) provides multiple services related to pipeline integrity and is a trusted contractor for the pipeline operator. Knowing this, the operator contacted TIR five (5) days prior to tool launch, requesting last-minute support to track the scheduled Geo and AMFL tools. TIR conducted a preliminarily review of the job and confirmed we could mobilize our field personnel to Lake Charles to perform the work. Not only did TIR effectively track both the Geo & AMFL tools but did so under the client’s budget. A summary of TIR’s performance is below:
- # of Personnel Mobilized: 9
- # of Above Ground Markers (AGM’s) placed: 74
- # of AGM’s missing the tool pass: ZERO (0)
Table 1: Contractor Comparison – Pig Tracking Services – 24”/30” Transmission Line, 73.5mi; Lake Charles, LA
| Tracking Contractor | Billable Personnel | AGM’s Placed | AGM’s Missing Pig Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Previous Tool Run (Anonymous) | 16 | 74 | 10+ |
| Tulsa Inspection Resources | 9 | 74 | ZERO (0) |
RESULTS FROM THE PROJECT
The project manager expressed sincere appreciation of TIR’s ability to react quickly and provide a last-minute solution to their problem. It was communicated that the client saved ~$33K on this one project alone. This value extrapolated over the clients transmission assets equates to a total potential savings of $2.4MM every five (5) years or $480K annually. Hiring the right contractor for the job could be the difference between a resounding success or a massive failure! TIR is prepared to make all our clients successful.
