Bristol Water has successfully completed a pioneering in-line leak detection assessment on a 100-year-old cast iron pipeline in Somerset, England. This initiative, conducted in partnership with the local SUEZ team, utilized the advanced Aganova Nautilus system, demonstrating Bristol Water’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Bristol Water, which supplies drinking water to approximately 1.2 million people in the Bristol region, continually invests in state-of-the-art technologies to enhance the efficiency and reliability of its infrastructure. Regulated by Ofwat, the company ensures that its services meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
In July 2024, Bristol Water faced the challenge of assessing a suspected leak in a 6.7 km pipeline carrying raw water in North Somerset. The pipeline’s rural location and age made traditional leak detection methods impractical, leading to the deployment of the Nautilus system.
Pipeline Inspection Details
The inspection targeted a section of the pipeline with the following characteristics:
- Length: 6,695 meters
- Diameter: 33 inches & 24 inches
- Water Speed: 1 m/s – 0.4 m/s
- Pressure: 1 – 6 bar
- Material: Cast Iron
Inspection Process
The inspection was carried out in a single day, with a systematic approach involving four key stages:
Insertion: The Nautilus 2 sphere was inserted through a DN150 gate valve at the water facility. The SUEZ team mounted the insertion system on the valve and used a pressure chamber to deploy the sphere without interrupting water service. This process was completed in just 37 minutes.
Synchronization: To ensure accuracy, eight synchronizers were installed along the pipeline, each taking approximately 10 minutes to set up. Additionally, two checkpoints were established to monitor the sphere’s progress.
Navigation: The sphere was inserted at 14:09, detected at the first checkpoint at 14:13, and the second at 15:50. The system estimated the inspection completion time at 16:10, resulting in a total inspection time of 2 hours under the given flow conditions.
Extraction: The extraction took place at Bristol Water’s waterworks. The SUEZ team mounted the extraction system onto a DN150 gate valve, retrieving the sphere without interrupting service. The entire extraction process was completed in 1 hour, with an additional 25 minutes needed to disassemble the system.
Results and Impact
Following the inspection, the collected data was sent to Aganova’s data analysis department in Málaga, Spain. A comprehensive report was delivered to Bristol Water a week later, revealing three incidents, including one significant leak.
The major leak was identified downstream near the extraction point at the waterworks. Utilizing the Nemo digital platform, Bristol Water received precise coordinates of the leak, with the Nemo AI algorithm estimating a flow rate upto 32.59 m³/hour, classifying it as a significant leak.
Additionally, the upgraded Nautilus 2 sphere provided Bristol Water with a detailed pressure and altitude profile of the inspected pipeline section, offering deeper insights into the pipeline’s condition.
Conclusion
The successful deployment of the Nautilus system underscores the utility’s dedication to adopting cutting-edge solutions for infrastructure management as well as the level of cooperation and commitment by all three companies, SUEZ, Aganova and Bristol Water. By identifying and locating a major leak in a challenging environment, Bristol Water continues to ensure the efficiency and sustainability of its water supply, ultimately benefiting the 1.2 million people it serves.
