Detection of Buried Pipelines Transporting Hot Fluids Using Infrared Thermography

Abstract— Detection of buried utilities such as pipelines is essential for infrastructure asset management operations. Pipeline locating operations are carried out during construction, rehabilitation, or farming activities in order to avoid digging into the buried pipeline; or to locate the pipe for maintenance work. Several techniques exist for locating buried pipelines, including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and tracer wires. GPR is less effective in locating non-metallic pipes or pipes buried in very wet and electrically conductive soils, while the tracer wire technique can only be used if the wires are buried with the pipe. A method of locating buried pipelines transporting hot fluids using Infrared Thermography (IRT) is presented in this paper. Additionally, IR cameras come in portable and compact form factors, which make it possible for it to be mounted on UAVs or to be integrated into UAV inspection systems. A 3 inch diameter Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composite pipe buried at 14 inch depth and transporting hot water was easily detected in the laboratory using IRT. A 6 inch diameter pipe buried at 3 ft. depth and transporting steam in the field environment was also detected all year round in different weather conditions with IRT. The laboratory and field results offer a great potential for detecting pipelines transporting hot petroleum from production wells and refineries, as well as pipes transporting fluids with significantly higher or lower temperatures with respective to the surrounding soil.