Enhancing Gas Safety and Efficiency with Innovative Technology

COSERV GAS HAS A NEW RESOURCE to help find damaged pipelines that’s faster, less disruptive to the public, and more cost effective.

Third-party excavation damages are the biggest threat to gas pipelines and sometimes the damage isn’t immediately reported – it’s discovered after the fact, said Russell Moody, CoServ’s Gas Damage Prevention Supervisor. That was the case earlier this year when CoServ Gas confirmed a gas leak underneath a newly rebuilt road. Standing on the road surface, it’s impossible to identify the source of the leak.

That’s when Russell called in the experts at Pipe View America.

Using a robotic camera, Pipe View traveled 540 feet through the pipe to find a nick in the pipeline and, through geolocation, pinpointed the location on the surface, so CoServ knew where to dig and make repairs.

Rather than tearing up multiple sections of the new road looking for the culprit – disrupting traffic on a major thoroughfare in Prosper – they were able to dig a four-by-four hole, cut out the damaged pipe section and fuse a new section.

“It made this situation a lot more efficient and more cost effective,” Russell said. “Without this, we wouldn’t know what was causing it and would have torn up the road to inspect the pipe or just abandon it and dig a new one – either way would have cost more money.”

Of course, the best way to prevent instances like this one is to call 811 before you dig so utilities are properly marked. Remember that Aug. 11 is National 811 Day when we remind people to dig safely. This applies to everyone, from a large construction company digging a trench to homeowners planting a tree in the yard.

For more safe digging information, visit CoServ.com/DigSafety.