New technology

PMI Denholm has just completed the UK’s first swagelining project on a potable water supply pipeline - meanwhile, the team is keeping a close watch on newer technologies emerging in the pipeline industry.

Swagelining is now a well-established technology, but had never been used before for drinking water supply pipes. Wessex Water commissioned PMI Denholm to provide swagelining for a 300m pipe which had previously burst twice - flooding the same houses on both occasions. Wessex Water – and the local residents – are delighted with the result.

Recent months have seen the incorporation of three new technologies into the PMI Denholm operational portfolio.

Guided Ultrasound (GUL)
This technology is used to carry out pipeline inspection on the outside of generally steel pipelines. It is particularly useful, for example, in refineries which cannot be inspected using the more traditional internal 'pigging' inspection.

As we talk to more-and-more clients, the potential use for the GUL technology expands. Our latest discussions have been with National Grid and Hounslow Council, who see a great potential in inspecting gas riser pipes in tower blocks - a big HS&E concern - and school and hospital water pipe systems.

Pipeline repair techniques
In particular, these include 3X products for repair of corroded pipes to a high standard and repair of pinhole type leaks.

In conjunction with GUL, we offer a front end/back end solution to clients - finding corrosion problems in their pipeline systems and then advising on various options for repairing the problem areas. We are now an official agent for 3X products.

Smart Ball
This is a device not unlike a bowling ball in appearance, which includes a satellite tracking system and acoustic sensors.

The device - smaller than the pipeline diameter - can be used in pipelines carrying water, gas or petrochemicals. It is untethered and it is carried along by the flow in the pipeline. The acoustic sensors detect any leakage in the pipeline and the satellite tracking system determines the location of the leak.

The Smart Ball has a great future tracking water leaks in particular, especially in such places as Kazakhstan, where much of the water is bought from Russia and there are leaking water pipes, or such as the UAE which has up to 50% leakage from their water system, much of which is desalinated – and thus comes at significant cost.

New technology - PMI Denholm using Guided Ultrasound (GUL) technology to inspect a pipeline in the Egyptian desert.