Picture this: fewer holes and shorter roadworks

Gas engineers are using a key-hole camera to reduce the number of holes they dig in the region’s roads and hopefully cut the duration of roadworks.

The camera produces ultrasound-like images from inside even the smallest gas pipe giving engineers information that helps speed up work and reduce excavations. It will be used by United Utilites engineers as they carry out gas mains upgrade work on behalf of pipeline owner, Northern Gas Networks across most of Yorkshire, the North East and northern Cumbira.

The kit represents a £50,000 investment and includes: the key-hole camera, several portable CCTV screens and a customised van with genrator, viewing screens and recording equipment.

Network Operations Manager, Adam Stephenson said: “By looking inside the gas pipes we can spot blockages or corrosion and measure precisely where the pipe goes and where it ends. This means fewer trial excavations and more accurate digging. Overall this should reduce the amount of time we need to spend on a job which is great news for road users and residents affected by our work.”

The camera had its first outing on a gas mains replacement job in Bradford in the Wrose Road area of Idle Moor which is part of Northern Gas Networks mains replacement programme. Northern Gas Networks’ Director Chris Gorman said: “This year Northern Gas Networks will invest £82 million renewing gas mains to ensure that our system remains one of the safest in the world.

“The good news is that we will be using modern technology to reduce the number of excavations we need to complete the work and our new plastic pipes are more durable and flexible and have a lifespan of at least 80 years.”