Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

ROSEN Canada Ltd. provides high-value engineering services in the field of pipeline internal coating for slurryx000D
pipes. They provides internal pipeline coating which is polyurethane based polymer coating, where itsx000D
composition is specialized to resist wear due to internal erosion and corrosion caused by oil sands. The thickx000D
layer of coating protects the steel pipelines for the average of 4 to 6 months before they 'turn' the pipes. In thisx000D
process, the most worn out bottom section moves to the less wear-intensive sidewalls or the top, replaced byx000D
less worn out section of the coating. After repeating cycle of the coating turns, the coating has to be replaced byx000D
a fresh new coating layer.x000D
The specific challenge for ROSEN Canada, however, is that they lack a direct method to monitor the erosionx000D
wear of pipeline coatings. The upstream pipelines are often challenging to the traditional Inline Inspection (ILI)x000D
tools, and they cannot be deployed frequently as the use of ILI causes disruption in the pipeline services.x000D
Indirect measurements from outside or experience based erosion rate estimation are common practices whichx000D
led to more frequent 'turn' and replacement, increasing the cost and time loss in pipeline operation. With thex000D
increasing concern over pipeline integrity management, the importance of direct and continuous monitoring ofx000D
internal pipeline coating has become more significant.x000D
The main goal of this project is to develop erosion sensors of the pipeline internal coating. The sensor must bex000D
accurate, providing continuous measurement of the data, robust and fully integrated into the coating itself. Tox000D
achieve this goal, the University of Calgary and ROSEN Canada have formed a collaborative relationship,x000D
proposing electrically conductive polymer nanocomposites sensors for wear detection purposes. Prototypex000D
design, fabrication, testing, characterization and optimization of nanocomposite-based erosion sensors will bex000D
performed in this project. Given the importance of the pipeline industry for the energy sector to the Canadianx000D
economy, the new erosion sensor will provide a significant benefit to the industry and the nation.