Insights from the International Pipeline Conference & Expo 2024

The International Pipeline Conference & Expo (IPCE) is the largest event for pipeline professionals in North America. If you know, you know. It was great to connect with industry experts, government officials, and regulators and discuss the latest advancements, challenges, and best practices in pipeline engineering and operations. We caught up with Sarah Newton, Head of Product & Customer Success and Senior Geological Engineer, and Chad Sutherland, Senior Product Manager, last week to get some insights on what they experienced at the show.

Advancement of In Line Inspection Tools

Let’s start with the advancement of in line inspection tools. In short, these tools, used to assess the internal condition of pipelines, are becoming increasingly sophisticated with capabilities such as measuring axial strain, which is the tension or compression that occurs along the longitudinal axis of a pipeline. Measuring axial strain has historically been challenging for the pipeline industry, but it allows operators to gain a better understanding of pipeline integrity, especially in areas prone to landslides or other geohazards. We also saw an increased focus on correlating strain measurements from strain gauges with inertial measurement unit data. 

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar Data

We saw more use of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) data in geohazard programs throughout many of the presentations at IPCE 2024. InSAR is a technology that uses radar images obtained from orbiting satellites to map ground deformation. Unlike visible or infrared light, radar waves can penetrate most weather clouds. InSAR technology can provide valuable insights into potential landslide movement and other geohazards, especially subsidence. Pipeline operators are increasingly utilizing InSAR data to identify vulnerable areas and implement preventive measures. 

Probability of Failure Algorithms

Another trend observed at ICP 2024 was the increasing prevalence of probability of failure (POF) algorithms within the pipeline industry. These algorithms can be used to assess the likelihood of pipeline failure by considering factors including material properties, operating conditions, and external threats. POF algorithms can help pipeline operators prioritize maintenance and repair efforts and allocate resources more effectively. Sarah actually presented on improvements made over 10 years of utilizing POF algorithms at IPCE 2022, and we caught a few more talks this year demonstrating the progression toward using POF to identify and prioritize at-risk geohazard sites for pipeline operators.

Data Management and Integration

Okay, on to probably our biggest takeaway from the show. As the pipeline industry starts embracing more technology to ensure climate resiliency, the challenge of managing the vast amount of data generated by various sources, including in line inspections, instrumentation, and external datasets is snowballing. Walking around the event, while we saw vendors offering solutions focused on specific data streams, there’s still a need for more comprehensive platforms to integrate all this information.

The industry has a significant opportunity to adopt new data management technologies and shift away from a traditionally cautious approach. By embracing innovative solutions, we can collectively improve the way data is managed and drive progress in this essential sector.

The Changing Climate and Its Impact on Pipelines

Our final takeaway is more of a summary. The climate is changing and the exact implications remain unclear for pipeline operators. One clear trend is the expected increase in both the magnitude and frequency of extreme rainfall events in North America. This highlights the need for pipeline operators to understand the potential impact of these events on their infrastructure - both today and into the future. In Chad’s experience in supporting operators with extreme event monitoring programs, understanding regional variations in trends as well as the site-specific sensitivity of hazards to changing conditions is key to being prepared for a future that is rife with uncertainty

Attending IPCE 2024 was a valuable experience for the Cambio Earth team. We feel inspired to continue building technology that transforms climate resiliency for critical infrastructure and work together with pipeline operators and other technology providers to unlock earth science data to better protect people, essential services, and the environment.