• Water pipeline operator benefits as transmission main remains in service, eliminating the need for dewatering
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Canada, Dec. 15, 2009 -- The Pressure Pipe Inspection Company Ltd. (PPIC) announced today that its PipeDiver™ technology set a new distance record of over 22 miles during the inspection of a 99-inch diameter water transmission main in central Mexico. This milestone inspection represented the longest distance travelled by an electromagnetic based system while the water main remained in service.
The project demonstrated the versatility of the PipeDiver™ tool as it was inserted and retrieved from the water main via standard access chambers. Minimal site preparation was required and once the tool entered the pipeline, it travelled at virtually the same flow rate of the water main. The flexible design of PipeDiver™ allowed it to navigate through a variety of bends and elevation changes.
"PipeDiver™ represents a new generation of condition assessment technology for water transmission mains and is a huge step forward to help utilities deal with a growing infrastructure problem," said Dr. Brian Mergelas, President and CEO of PPIC. "This technology provides critical data about the condition of a pipeline and allows municipalities to pinpoint individual pipes that are at risk of failure."
Electromagnetic technologies offer a proven solution to help manage the ever-widening water infrastructure-funding gap faced by municipalities. On average, identifying and repairing individual lengths of pipe can be accomplished for a fraction of cost of a full line replacement, allowing pipeline operators to maximize their budget investments.
PipeDiver™ is a free-swimming tool that provides information about the integrity of Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP). Compared to alternative methods of large diameter pipeline inspection, PipeDiver™ offers a significant cost savings as the pipeline remains in service, eliminating the need for de-watering and service shutdown.
About PPIC
A world leader in large diameter water and wastewater pipeline condition assessment, PPIC offers forward looking solutions to help customers address aging infrastructure challenges in a reliable and cost effective manner. Our innovative services pinpoint damaged sections of a pipeline to help optimize infrastructure investments, stop leaks, reduce risk and ensure compliance. PPIC has inspected over 6,000 miles of critical pipeline assets over the past decade. For more information, visit www.ppic.com
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