Smart Pipes, Smarter Workers: Realizing the Benefits of Automation in Cathodic Protection

As remote monitoring technologies continue to advance, operations are taking advantage of the fact that expanding the deployments of RMU monitoring across their operations enables technicians to focus on more impactful tasks of troubleshooting and optimizing CP systems. Fit-for-purpose RMUs are serving as a catalyst for more strategic [and challenging] field applications, with improved data capture increasing the quality of the system, which were traditionally near impossible due to economic or resource constraints.

Table Stakes: Satisfying Regulatory Requirements

Remote Monitoring Units (RMUs) play a crucial role in helping cathodic protection systems meet regulatory requirements by providing real-time monitoring, data collection, and analysis capabilities. Here’s how RMUs facilitate compliance with regulatory standards:

Continuous Monitoring: RMUs enable continuous monitoring of critical parameters, such as pipe-to-soil potential, current density, and corrosion rate, which are essential for assessing the effectiveness of the cathodic protection system. This continuous monitoring ensures that any deviations from regulatory thresholds are promptly detected and addressed. RMUs can be configured to generate alerts and notifications in case of abnormal conditions or system malfunctions. By promptly alerting operators to potential issues, RMUs facilitate timely interventions to prevent corrosion-related failures and maintain regulatory compliance.

Data Logging and Reporting: RMUs collect and store data over time, allowing operators to generate comprehensive reports for regulatory agencies. These reports demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements and provide evidence of the effectiveness of the cathodic protection system. RMUs maintain a detailed audit trail of monitoring activities and system events, providing documentation for regulatory audits and inspections. This documentation demonstrates compliance with regulatory standards and helps address any inquiries or concerns raised by regulatory agencies.

Moving Beyond Just Data Collection

Expanding Data Analysis: The use of next-generation platform solutions with specialized, high-resolution Remote Monitoring Units (RMUs) extends far beyond just the collection of data. The ability of the associated platform to not only store readings but also leverage AI and machine learning to automate the analysis of historical data is crucial for generating valuable prediction models, identifying trends and optimizing cathodic protection (CP) systems as a whole. Such data-driven strategies can consider variables like environmental conditions and seasonal changes.

Forecasting Major Expenditures: By applying predictive analytics to rectifier output data from RMUs, operators can now accurately anticipate the degradation of groundbeds. This foresight is instrumental towards effective OpEx budget planning for significant system overhauls, but it also empowers operations to optimize strategic planning in order to maximize the value they can realize from expensive dig projects.

System Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting CP systems also benefit from RMUs’ capabilities. Continuous monitoring of interference bonds plays a critical role in system integrity, as demonstrated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s report on a gas pipeline incident [EXTERNAL LINK]. This report highlighted the importance of RMU monitoring in preventing catastrophic failures due to external corrosion. Strategically deployed RMUs have also enabled detection of ‘rectifier-of-influence’ for an electrically continuous system.

Furthermore, next-generation fast-sampling RMUs are increasingly being employed in AC mitigation systems. They are instrumental in detecting AC fault currents and AC current density, a growing trend among system designers. This proactive approach utilizing RMUs for various aspects of CP systems underscores the evolving landscape of infrastructure maintenance and regulatory compliance.

Technological advancements in remote monitoring not only serve to ensure the functionality of the cathodic protection systems but have alleviated workers from mundane and repetitive tasks and have paved the way for the reallocation of valuable cathodic protection expertise towards more analytical, complex, and value-creating endeavors. Fast sampling data collection by RMUs and the cloud-based software platform required to interpret higher volumes of data reflects a shift towards a more predictive and preventative maintenance model, promising enhanced safety and efficiency for the cathodic protection industry.

MOBILTEX’s CorTalk RMU Platform Solutions  remotely execute complete GPS-synchronized interruption on a series of rectifiers and test points in order to make cathodic protection surveys simpler and more accurate than ever before. MOBILTEX offers a holistic approach to cathodic protection monitoring, so you can capture and maintain detailed records of rectifier outputs, test station ‘on’/‘off’ values, coupon readings, and more. MOBILTEX solutions are also being used to monitor and alert operators to potentially catastrophic CP interference from high-voltage power lines (HVPLs) and Transit systems, including Fast Sampling capabilities at challenging at-risk applications. In addition, forward-thinking operators are leveraging this efficient backhaul to add additional remote sensing technologies in areas that have been cost-prohibitive or technically impossible in the past.

The MOBILTEX  CorView Cloud Platform  works as an all-in-one cathodic protection data management system, ensuring you can easily access complete and reliable compliance records that meet all the data retention requirements of Part 192 of the PHMSA regulations. CorView gives operators round-the-clock access to any of the data collected by MOBILTEX’s full portfolio of RMUs.

Refer to the list below for a quick reference of features available in the CorTalk RMU solutions and Contact a MOBILTEX representative  today to find out how our products can improve safety, lower operating costs and future-proof your operations, all while optimizing the performance of your cathodic protection systems.

Taxonomy

• Pipes Design
• Pipes and Pipielines
• Cathodic Protection
• Cathodic Protection
• Pipes and Pipelines