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RSPA 10-03
Monday, September 8, 2003
Contacts: Joe Delcambre
Damon A. Hill
Tel.: (202) 366-4831
Transportation Department Awards $1.9 Million for Pipeline Safety Research
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced transaction
agreements totaling $1.9 million for eight government-industry research and
development (R&D) projects to ensure the safety and reliability of pipelines.
The awards, offered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT)
Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), promote construction safety
of new and existing pipelines, as well as support in-service pipeline repairs
and detection and deterrence of leading pipeline failure causes. Matching funds
were provided by industry to make approximately $4.4 million available for
research projects, bringing the agency's total government-industry investment in
pipeline R&D to $10.3 million since its pipeline safety research program began
last year.
"These awards support the department's goal of sustaining a safe, secure and
reliable transportation system that contributes to America's economic growth and
improves our quality of life," Secretary Mineta said. "Exploiting the results of
our transportation R&D investments contributes to maintaining a first-class
transportation system for the American public."
Today's awards will be allocated among companies selected by RSPA that submitted
research projects in response to the agency's third Broad Agency Announcement
(BAA) issued in January 2003. In this BAA, RSPA solicited pipeline technologies
that will help to improve pipeline materials and extend the integrity and
lifetime of installed pipelines and their various components.
The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requires DOT to work with the
Department of Energy and the National Institute for Standards and Technology in
carrying out a pipeline research, development, demonstration and standardization
program that will enhance pipeline transportation safety in three to five years.
In July, RSPA awarded a total of $540,000 for research focused on new
technologies to enhance pipeline operations, controls and monitoring solutions.
To date, the agency has awarded funding for approximately 22 research projects
with over $5.6 million in funding being provided by industry.
RSPA has developed an R&D website that contains information on all current and
previous research conducted by its Office of Pipeline Safety and provides a
method for feedback and comments. http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/rd/.
The awards announced today will fund the following projects:
* Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus, Ohio, and Pipeline Research
Council International, Inc., Washington, DC, to develop improved technology used
in detecting soil backfills around pipelines ($263,976). An additional project
to update, and develop where needed, alternative defect acceptance criteria for
U.S. pipeline constructions ($312,309).
* Edison Welding Institute of Columbus, Ohio, with Pipeline Research Council
International, Inc., Washington, DC, and TransCanada of Alberta, Canada, to
develop advanced welding repair and remediation methods for in-service pipelines
($409,673).
* Edison Welding Institute of Columbus, Ohio, with Pipeline Research Council
International, Inc., Washington, DC, TransCanada of Alberta, Canada, and
ConocoPhillips of Houston to define and develop improved multi-probe automated
ultrasonic testing and phased array systems to detect, locate and size flaws
within pipelines and resolve distance between potentially interacting defects
($349,900).
* BMT Fleet Technology, Limited of Ontario, Canada, to support development and
application of procedures for welding on in-service pipelines using alternate
welding processes ($90,000). An additional project to support development of a
guidance note for fillet welded connections to pipelines ($45,000).
* Battelle Corporation of Columbus, Ohio, and Pipeline Research Council
International, Inc., Washington, DC, to develop quantitative measures to assess
corrosion defect severity and determine failure pressure of pipelines
($196,000).
* Southwest Research Institute of San Antonio, Texas, with Pipeline Research
Council International, Inc., Washington, DC, SoCal Gas of Los Angeles and Gulf
South Pipeline of San Antonio, Texas, to produce technology capable of exerting
a high-amplitude guided wave to allow long-range pipeline inspection for
enhanced pipeline safety ($272,420).
RSPA has responsibilities for the safe and secure movement of hazardous
materials to industry and consumers by all transportation modes, including the
nation=s pipelines; rapid response to emergencies by government agencies;
training for transportation safety professionals; and applying science and
technology to meet national transportation needs.
For additional information visit us on the web at: http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/rd;
or contact Gordon.Delcambre@rspa.dot.gov or
Damon.Hill@rspa.dot.gov.
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