Acoustic Sensor for Pipeline Monitoring: Technology Report

Executive Summary This report presents detailed information on the effort to develop acoustic sensing technologies for natural gas pipe line monitoring. It starts with a historical evolution of the project and ends with the current status. The various technical accomplishments during this effort are pointed out. The latest technique involves the use of Lamb wave propagation in the wall of a pipe generated in a stand-off manner for defect detection. The report presents data to show how various types of defects in a pipeline can be monitored using this technique. Defects (e.g., a 0.5 mm groove on 7 mm thick pipe) on the outside of a pipe can be detected using transducers inside the pipe. Various advantages and certain disadvantages of this technique are pointed out. Recommendations as to the future direction of this effort are also presented.