IMU: The Ultimate Pipeline Bodyguard Against Landslides

January 14, 2025
Insights

If you want a rock-solid pipeline integrity program, you’ll need to be on top of your geohazards, but when landslides start creeping (literally), things can get slippery. Landslides can damage or even rupture pipelines, leading to environmental disasters, service disruptions, and safety risks.

Enter Joel Van Hove, Senior Geotechnical Engineer at BGC Engineering. At the upcoming PPIM Conference (Jan 27–31, 2025), Joel will unveil groundbreaking research on how inertial measurement units (IMUs) can sniff out pipelines most at risk from landslides. If you’re eager for a sneak peek, grab your virtual hiking boots—we’re digging in!

Trenching vs. Horizontal Directional Drilling: A Battle Beneath the Surface

When pipelines cross landslides they typically take one of two installation paths: trenching or horizontal directional drilling (HDD). Trenching involves digging a long ditch, laying the pipeline several meters deep, and backfilling. It’s straightforward and sturdy.

HDD, on the other hand, is like a subterranean superhero—avoiding surface disruptions by drilling a horizontal borehole up to 70 meters deep. It’s perfect for skirting obstacles like rivers or highways. But there’s a catch: HDD pipelines are 15 times more likely to fail when crossing landslides than their trenched cousins. Why? Let’s dig into the details.

Why HDD Pipelines Crack Under Pressure (Cue Queen’s “Under Pressure”)

Pipelines are typically made of steel, which is tough-stuff, but if you put that pipeline dozens of meters under the ground it starts to look as weak as spaghetti compared to the concrete like stiffness of the soil at depth. This vice-like grip means landslides cutting through deeply buried pipelines need much less movement to cause damage or rupture.

Even small landslides can make these pipelines go shear mad. Unfortunately, many landslides creep along at rates slower than your fingernails grow, making them tricky to detect before damage occurs.

IMU: Nipping Trouble in the Bud

Here’s where inertial measurement units (IMUs) swoop in to save the day. These electronic devices pack accelerometers and gyroscopes into a tool that travels through pipelines, mapping their every twist and turn in 3D. By tracking subtle changes in a pipeline’s orientation, IMUs can reveal where strain is building—long before a failure happens.

IMU monitoring offers several advantages:

  • Widely Used: Many operators already collect IMU data to validate pipeline positions.
  • Pipeline as a Sensor: The pipeline itself becomes the measuring instrument, revealing the depth of the HDD, and possibly the depth and activity of the landslides.
  • High Sensitivity: IMUs can detect even minor bending or strain that could escalate over time.

The Big Picture: Combining IMU with Other Tech

IMU data shines brightest when paired with complementary technologies:

  • Lidar Change Detection (LCD): Tracks surface changes over time.
  • InSAR: Monitors ground movement using satellite radar.

Together, these tools provide a comprehensive understanding of the pipeline’s condition and surrounding terrain. BGC Engineering showcased this integration at a site in the Columbia River Gorge, using IMU, LCD, and InSAR to track oblique movement across an HDD pipeline over seven years. The result? A detailed risk assessment with actionable insights for pipeline maintenance and longevity.

The Low-Hanging Fruit: Prioritize HDD Pipelines in Risk Zones

Joel’s advice? Start with the riskiest fruit in the geohazard orchard. HDD pipelines, despite being a tiny fraction of any pipeline system, carry higher failure risks—especially in landslide-prone zones. Prioritizing them ensures maximum impact for your mitigation efforts.

Here’s how IMU can help operators:

  1. Pinpoint high-risk HDD segments.
  2. Accurately assess strain and bending risks.
  3. Allocate resources to prioritize interventions.
  4. Prevent failures before they occur, reducing environmental and safety hazards.

Ready to Roll Rocks and Mitigate Risks?

To learn more about how IMUs can protect your pipelines, contact Cambio for expert guidance. And don’t miss Joel Van Hove’s presentation at the PPIM Conference in Houston, Texas (Jan 27–31, 2025). It’s a gneiss opportunity to gain invaluable insights into landslide risk management! For more details and tickets, https://ppimconference.com/2025-conference-program/.