PRCI Submits Proposals to PHMSA for R&D Projects and Consolidated Programs

Monday, August 15, 2016

Author: PRCI

Following notification by US DOT PHMSA on the approval of the three White Papers that PRCI submitted in response to the PHMSA Research Announcementfor pipeline R&D projects, PRCI prepared and submitted technical proposals to more fully describe the scope of work and provide detailed costs estimates for the proposed projects. The three projects are within the Anomaly Detection/Characterization Focus Area listed in the Research Announcement (DTPH56-13-RA-000001) and each addresses inspection technology development and qualification.

PRCI elected to submit the White Papers and full proposals based on the consistency between the Research Announcement topic areas and several of PRCI’s research programs. The proposals submitted included the following (the Research Topic Number from the Research Announcement is provided following each proposal title):

Determination of the Performance of In the Ditch NDE Techniques (Topic No. 8)
Improvement of Inspection Technology Capability to Detect and Characterize Complex Mechanical Damage Features (Topic No. 9)
Development of an Industry Test facility and Qualification Processes for ILI Technology Evaluation and Enhancements (Topic No. 10)

In addition to being the lead on three technical proposals submitted under the Research Announcement, PRCI is a partner and part of the Project Team on several others. The proposals being supported by PRCI include:

Consolidated Program – Mobile Pipeline Leak Detection Systems (Topic No. 5), in partnership with Electricore, AeroVironment, Physical Sciences, Inc., and Picarro, Inc.
Consolidated Project—Full Scale Testing of Interactive Features for Improved Models (Topic Nos. 15 & 19), in partnership with Electricore, BMT Fleet Technology, and GDF Suez
A Functional and Comprehensive Database for Installed US Pipe Material (Topic No. 3), in partnership with NIST and others

All of the proposals that PRCI sponsored, either directly as the lead or in a supporting role, are posted in PRIME for member company review.

The White Papers submitted to PHMSA are being reviewed by a panel of pipeline industry professionals, which will make recommendations to PHMSA on selection and funding of R&D projects. The review is expected to be completed and notifications provided by PHMSA in the second quarter of 2013. The Research Announcement indicated that the expected level of funding for the R&D projects that are selected by PHMSA will be approximately $10 million.

Special acknowledgement to PRCI member company representatives that played a significant role in leading the development of the technical proposals goes to Mr. John O’Brien of Chevron Energy Technology Company, and Messrs. Remi Batisse and Mures Zarea of GDF Suez.

Anyone interested in additional information on the Research Announcement and PRCI’s response and technical proposals should contact Mark Piazza, PRCI’s Director of Pipeline Programs.