#890: Chris Apps: C-FER Evaluates New Aerial Pipeline Surveillance Technology

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It’s one thing to fly over pipeline right of ways to visually check for oil leaks.

But new technologies could allow pipeline companies to do much better, and that’s means detecting underground leaks before they reach the surface.

Chris Apps is a Research Engineer at C-FER Technologies.  His group is testing new modes of aerial pipeline surveillance. 

CHRIS APPS:    The two main mechanisms they are using, one is looking for temperature changes at the surface caused by a leak.  And the other is looking for concentrations of volatile organic compounds.  So actually looking for vapours that have made their way to the surface.    And then there’s  also flame ionization detection, so looking for vapours  with lasers and such. There’s a few different methods.  The advantages, of course, are then you don’t have to see the big slick.  It can be earlier warning than that.    And the other advantage to the airborne technology over the cable base that we talked about is, of course, retrofitting is a non issue.  You just fly over the pipeline and you can upgrade your technology on the airplane periodically.   

According to Chris Apps, industry partners in this joint evaluation project include Enbridge, TransCanada and Kinder-Morgan.

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates

Learn more at Innovation Anthology.com

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2017-08-29