Over 16 years ago, pipeline operators requested the development of an ILI axial strain measurement tool to support their geohazard management programs. Since then, Axial Strain Measurement Inspection Service (AXISSTM) has been employed on over 25,000kms of pipeline with many high strain locations successfully identified and mitigated. Like any new technology, it took time to gain traction and establish its role, but now the axial strain tool is a unique, established and proven tool for a pipeline operator to assess geohazards, movement and other strain - related threats.

Over the years, the operators’ experience has provided key insights as to where the current technology strengths lie and of course where the provision of additional information could further enhance their integrity engineers’ more complete understanding of stress and strain-based threats to then develop proactive mitigation strategies and importantly conduct more cost-effective repair programs – ensuring their pipeline’s safe and continuing operation.

This paper presents a response to these learned and clearly defined needs. It introduces a new generation axial stress measurement inspection technology, AXISS™ EPS, that adopts these required advancements by providing more detailed and additional information critical to understand the true stress landscape of pipelines under axial and bending conditions. Insights will be provided to the system’s performance relative to inspections performed with the first-generation technology and the current and future advantages this new technology will bring to managing total stress and strain.

Importantly, this paper will also discuss how this key strain data is then integrated and applied into the wider Geohazard assessment and management process. The authors will describe how, with the aid of comprehensive, Geohazard Management Software the strain features are evaluated alongside existing geohazard inventories, remote sensing, and other environmental data to refine probability of failure, risk models and establish timely mitigation plans.