According to EGIG statistics third-party damage is ranked as one of the most frequent causes of damage to buried onshore high-pressure gas pipelines. Accurate knowledge of the pipeline geolocation and its depth of cover is recognized as protection from accidental damage. Encroachment on pipeline corridors potentially compromises buried infrastructure integrity and emphasizes the need for stringent georeferenced pipeline position data. Conventional handheld detection methods, including electromagnetic and ground-penetrating radar systems, face significant limitations in remote rural areas and when applied on a large scale. Factors such as complex terrain, high humidity, safety risks for field personnel, human error, and logistical challenges related to accessibility and authorization contribute to their reduced effectiveness.
In response, Skipper NDT has developed a fully automated, drone-mounted solution that efficiently collects magnetic maps above buried pipelines, delivering centimetric geospatial coordinates (XYZ) and depth-of-cover data. The automation of this process allows for the rapid mapping of pipelines, significantly reducing deployment time and enhancing operational safety. The system overcomes the limitations of traditional handheld tools, offering fast and accurate results over significant distances while minimizing human intervention and error. In a joint effort, Skipper NDT and GASCADE carried out a geospatial survey of a more than 20-kilometer long buried pipeline section of nominal pipe size 36" in Germany. Data acquisition lasted two weeks and demonstrated the technology’s capability to cover large distances efficiently. The fully automated procedure enabled rapid data capture with minimal human interaction, providing highly accurate results and the development of a digital twin integrating other layers of information such as bathymetry and photogrammetry. This case study project highlights the potential of the Skipper NDT drone-based magnetic mapping for pipeline georeferencing. By process automation, the applied technology offers safe, reproducible and accurate results in less time than alternative conventional methods.