Gas distribution utilities face increasing pressure to maintain operational safety and reliability. One growing area of concern is the integrity of mechanical tapping tees, which have been associated with potential leaks and detachment issues. The industry has identified improper installation of the fitting as a key factor.
Traditionally, mechanical tapping tee inspections are done by excavating directly over the tee to perform a manual external evaluation.
Now, with mounting pressure from state regulators to inspect and document mechanical tapping tee installation, there’s a better option: Internal CCTV inspections on live pipelines with minimal excavation.
Let’s look at these innovative solutions. But first, a quick primer.
Understanding Mechanical Tapping Tees
Mechanical tapping tees are essential components used in gas distribution systems to create branch connections. These fittings allow utilities to tap into existing pipelines without the need for a complete shutdown, which can be a significant operational advantage.
However, the inherent challenges associated with mechanical tapping tees lie in their ability to maintain a secure and leak-proof connection over time.
Issues can arise due to a variety of factors, including improper installation, material degradation, and external stressors. To make matters even more complicated, inspectors cannot visually inspect the cutter position from the outside of the pipeline, leaving potential risk in the system.
Why Tapping Tee Inspections Matters Now More than Ever
Regular inspection of mechanical tapping tees is crucial for several reasons:
- Leak Prevention: Early detection of leaks can prevent catastrophic failures, ensuring the safety of both personnel and the surrounding environment. The consequences of a gas leak can be dire, resulting in not just financial losses but also potential harm to communities and ecosystems.
- Regulatory Compliance: As regulatory bodies increasingly mandate the identification and assessment of tapping tee installations, utilities must stay ahead of compliance requirements. Many jurisdictions (like New York and Kentucky) are now requiring utilities to report on their usage of mechanical tapping tees, making it essential to have reliable inspection processes in place.
- Operational Efficiency: More frequent inspections allow for proactive maintenance, reducing downtime and associated costs. By identifying issues early, utilities can schedule repairs at convenient times, minimizing service disruptions for customers.
- DIMP: Tapping tee inspections fall under the realm of gas distribution integrity management (DIMP), and by integrating advanced inspection technologies, utilities can gain deeper insights into the condition of their assets and prevent accidents.
The Big Challenge with Mechanical Tapping Tee Inspections
When you manage thousands of miles of PE gas main (as most utilities do), finding the one faulty mechanical service tee is like looking for a needle in a haystack. It takes time, a lot of excavation, and a lot of money.
More importantly, traditional tee inspection solutions can wreak havoc on the community—the work is noisy, incredibly disruptive, and involves costly guesswork. Because many of the excavations required for installation are in the street, a large part of the cost of traditional programs includes excavation and reinstatement of the roadway.
This is where live gas main inspections come into play.
Live Gas Main Inspection Solutions: A Game Changer in DIMP
AT ULC Technologies, we specialize in making mechanical tapping tee inspections easier, faster, safer, and less disruptive. Thanks to our innovative live gas main inspection camera technology, we can conduct thorough in-pipe examinations of live assets without the need for service interruptions.
From inside the PE gas distribution main, the inspection camera provides a clear view of the threaded locking sleeve and its position within the wall of the PE pipe. Distribution engineers can use this data to label each tee installation with a pass or fail result.
Left: Shows proper installation of PMTT with the collar/cutter protruding into the main. Right: Shows improper installation of PMTT where the collar/cutter is not protruding into the main.
Here’s how internal tee inspection compares to traditional inspections:
- Live Asset Inspections: The ability to assess pipelines while they remain in operation minimizes disruptions, ensuring customers continue to receive reliable service. In an industry where uptime is crucial, this benefit provides a significant competitive edge.
- High-Resolution Data: Advanced robotic systems provide high-resolution imaging and data analysis, enabling technicians to identify potential issues that may not be visible through traditional inspection methods.
- Cost Effectiveness: By avoiding the need for an excavation over every mechanical tee, internal gas main CCTV inspections can save utilities significant operational costs in the long run. The ability to inspect multiple tee installations from one excavation translates directly to cost saving and improved efficiency.
- Comprehensive Reporting: Robotic inspection systems generate detailed reports that document the condition of tapping tees and any identified issues. These reports are invaluable for regulatory compliance and can assist utilities in developing maintenance plans.
Gas Main Mapping Integration
Through our partnership with CUES, Inc., also part of SPX Technologies, utilities can take mechanical tapping tee inspection data to the next level. Using the GraniteNet platform, ULC Technologies can quickly and easily track inspection results, organize images and video, generate reports, and more, making compliance a breeze.
GIS style maps accurately display the location of gas mains along with critical features such as offsets, fusions, valves, and branches, allowing for comprehensive insight into the system’s layout. By incorporating GPS data, our process of precise gas infrastructure mapping enhances the overall quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) process.
This streamlined approach makes data auditing straightforward and improves long-term record-keeping, enabling utility companies to meet compliance requirements for maintaining infrastructure records over extended timeframes. Learn more about deployment of GraniteNet for gas main inspection and mapping on our website.
Robotic Inspection in Action
ULC Technologies was asked to help a utility after installation of 20,000 feet of PE gas main. They discovered one of the service tees was not properly installed after completing the work, which posed a real threat to the community.
If they had used a traditional approach, the utility contractor would have had to excavate over all 286 tee inspections. Thanks to robotic inspection technology, the required excavation was reduced by 87%.
Our robotic inspection was able to pinpoint the exact location of each tee. As a result, the entire process was completed in 17 days and with zero service disruption to customers.
You can read the full case study here.
Conclusion: Mechanical Tapping Tee Inspection Made Easier and Safer
Mechanical tapping tee inspections are a necessity, but that doesn’t mean they have to be a hurdle for utilities and contractors.
Internal mechanical tapping tee inspections can ensure safety, continuous service delivery, and regulatory compliance — all in record time and with less guesswork.
Learn more about our live gas service inspections, which go far beyond tapping tees, and contact us for a service quote.
