METEC Facility: Building a Pseudo-Realistic Underground Pipeline Testbed to Enhance Leak Detection Testing Capabilities

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Intro and Motivation

  • Leak detection and repair (LDAR) effectiveness is influenced by soil, moisture, wind, and other environmental conditions.
    Shifting environmental factors cause complex underground gas migration.
  • Leak detection protocols must be able to adapt to diverse subsurface and surface conditions.
  • Pseudo-realistic pipeline testbeds support LDAR development, testing, and validation.
  • Verifying LDAR methods on underground leaks ensures robust, field-ready solutions.

The US EPA has introduced processes that allow advanced methods for methane leak detection to be certified as Alternative Testing Methods to replace some aspects of required screenings under The Final Rule. This study can provide insight towards their use with periodic screenings and repair verification.


Past Pipeline Builds at METEC

Aerial view of METEC showing: - Aboveground testbeds with the ability to release upwards of 200 kg of CNG a day. - Rural testbed; simulated leak - Sand testbed; simulated pipe and leaks in sand and natural backfill - Urban testbed; simulated pipes and leaks with structures and asphalt pavement (photos below)
Urban testbed with asphalt
Urban testbed
Urban testbed with snow

New Pipeline Testbed Build

  • Four 20-meter sections installed southwest of above ground site for separation between release types
  • Surrounding gravel roads for advanced mobile leak detection surveys
  • Capability to release 0.001-9.0 kg/hr
Aerial view of the new pipeline testbed during construction. Items of note include: - 15’ wide sand testbed, under construction - 12’ undisturbed soil between each section - Crossing pipeline with leak point under road, backfill sieved to
Aerial view of METEC with wind rose diagram
  • Three backfill configurations
    • All sections are bedded in 4” of sand
    • Native soil was removed during construction, sieved to two different sizes and used as the backfill for 3 of the 4 sections.
    • Sand testbed will be backfilled with sand and active soon
Cross view of the three backfill profiles
Computer generated image showing the pipeline infrastructure
  • 2” PVC tubes simulate the pipeline.
  • Emission points are located every 10’ along the pipeline.
  • Emission points were designed with minimal extension from.

Data Collection Efforts

  • Driving, walking, and simulated UAV surveys are being conducted over long term releases.
  • One of the goals is to conduct a variety of surveys over a variety of leak sizes and environmental conditions
  • Surface expression data is collected in a 5-meter radius around leak location
Leak Heatmap with Contours with measurement locations, leak location, and concentration (ppm)
Individual using equipment at a METEC site while walking
Truck with equipment in the truck bed

Next Steps

  • Current site provides significant area to expand through the construction of additional sections
  • High level of variability in backfill, depth, and pipeline material possible
  • Multi-mode capability for different sensing modes and technologies
    • Ground penetrating radar
    • Magnetometry
    • Acoustics
    • Oxygen depletion
  • Ability to add realistic obstructions such as structures, cars or vegetation
  • Complete sand testbed
  • Install underground gas monitoring system
  • Install underground soil moisture and temperature system
  • Implement automated data collection to replace surveys
Aerial view of METEC facility showing where new infrastructure could be added
Digital rendering of what new infrastructure at METEC could look like

Contact

Pipeline testbed development efforts are supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-FE0032276 as well as by METEC’s diverse industry partners’ support including provision of cost share funding.

The METEC facility depends on active stakeholder engagement to remain relevant.  Please reach out if you have ideas for site improvement, expanded testing capabilities or would like to utilize the site for your testing needs.

Kate Patterson | Research Associate | [email protected]

Dan Zimmerle | Director, METEC | [email protected] 


Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the Dr. Kathleen Smits Research Group at SMU for their contributions to the design and development of the pipeline testbeds at METEC. 

SMU Lyle School of Engineering
SMU Cox School of Business
Equipment at the METEC Site