An Arizona city needed to ensure their twinned 24-inch 9.5-mile sewer force mains could handle increased inflow. SFE Global used the progressive pigging approach together with SmartFoam™ technology for a high-resolution condition assessment, identifying and addressing critical issues to enhance pipeline safety, reliability, and cost-effective maintenance.
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An Arizona City, aiming to significantly increase inflow to a major pump station, faced the critical task of ensuring their twinned 24-inch sewer force mains, made of ductile iron and HOBAS fiberglass reinforced pipe and spanning 9.5 miles, could handle the future load. They needed a high-resolution condition assessment to confirm the pipelines' remaining useable life.
To address these needs, SFE Global deployed their progressive pigging approach together with advanced SmartFoam™ technology, offering a comprehensive pipeline condition assessment and forward-looking maintenance strategy. This involved a multi-step process ensuring detailed and accurate data collection to inform the city's infrastructure planning and risk management.
Temporary pig launch piping was brought on-site to introduce all cleaning and inspection pigs into the system. This setup ensured the pigs could be launched without interrupting the existing pump station and pipeline operations.
Safety was paramount during the pig receiving process. The SmartFoam pigs were captured at the discharge maintenance chamber where the team observes all discharged debris and carefully removes the pigs for inspection.
All pigs were tracked meticulously for precise locating. Automatic emails and texts were sent to operators as the pigs passed predefined points along the pipe path, ensuring real-time monitoring and data collection.
SFE Global employed a progressive pigging approach to remove settled solids, fats, oils, grease (FOG), and other foreign debris from each pipeline. This cleaning process was essential to prepare the pipelines for a thorough condition assessment.
The SmartFoam pigs conducted a high-resolution condition assessment, sensing and locating all pipeline features and anomalies. This included detecting corrosion, geometric anomalies, and other structural defects that could affect the pipeline's performance.
The collaboration between the City, Consultant, and SFE Global not only led to a better understanding of the system operation and current pipeline condition, but also saw significant improvements in the pipeline efficiency/capacity. The consultant can now calculate remaining useable life of each pipeline and apply this to the City’s risk management strategy.
The precise data collected by the SmartFoam pig allowed the city to address critical issues proactively, ensuring the safety and reliability of the pipeline network. This proactive approach minimized the risk of unexpected failures and service disruptions.
By identifying specific problem areas, the city could target its maintenance efforts more effectively, reducing overall costs and extending the lifespan of the existing infrastructure.
The use of advanced electromagnetic sensors, eddy current data, and smart caliper provided highly accurate assessments of the pipeline condition. This data was crucial for making informed decisions about repairs and replacements, ensuring optimal resource allocation.
SFE Global provided the city with detailed dig sheets and KMZ files, including all anomalies, fittings, joints, and offtakes located. This comprehensive reporting enabled efficient planning and execution of maintenance activities, further enhancing the pipeline network's integrity.
Through innovative technology and a collaborative approach, SFE Global helped the City overcome its pipeline management challenges. SmartFoam provided the high-resolution data needed to ensure the reliability and safety of the city's critical infrastructure. This successful partnership highlights the effectiveness of SFE Global's solutions in transforming urban pipeline management and maintenance practices.
Discover how SFE Global can help you achieve similar success in your pipeline projects. Contact us today to learn more about our services and solutions.
Collaborating with leading suppliers to deliver reliable and innovative solutions.
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We begin with thorough consultations, understanding your unique needs and aligning with all stakeholders.
We work with you to create detailed designs and specifications, helping you craft winning proposals for municipal projects.
We execute the project with rigorous quality assurance and continuous monitoring, ensuring compliance with municipal standards and preventing costly failures.
An Oregon city used SFE Global, together with INGU Pipers, to detect leaks, air pockets, and debris in a 16-inch sewer force main. Results identified significant air pockets and debris causing a 16% capacity reduction in the pipeline.
Partnering with a pigging expert will give you peace of mind that your pipeline is being looked after by industry professionals with years of experience.
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