Keyhole Squeeze-Off Tool to Enable Repair of Large (4" and 6") Polyethylene Gas Pipes

70281S02-II There is a critical need for safe, reliable and cost effective repair of aging and expanding natural gas transmission and distribution polyethylene (PE) pipelines in the United States. The industry is moving to ¿keyhole¿ access to repair these pipelines because of safety, reliability, and cost benefits. The critical first step in gas line maintenance and repair is to stop the flow of natural gas. This typically is achieved by ¿squeezing off¿ the gas flow with PE pipe squeeze-off tools. However, no tools are currently available for squeezing-off 4 and 6 inch PE pipes through keyhole access. This project will develop, demonstrate, and manufacture an innovative ¿squeeze-off¿ tool that can safely squeeze-off these large diameter polyethylene pipes through keyhole access. In Phase I, a ¿squeeze-off¿ test tool was designed, fabricated, and field tested for large (4¿ and 6¿) diameter polyethylene natural gas pipe. The squeeze-off tool exceeded performance expectations in the field tests, and was received enthusiastically by utility representatives. Phase II will optimize the design of an engineered prototype squeeze-off tool. Four units will be fabricated and rigorously tested in laboratory and field-test environments, and then used in natural gas utility operations. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The new squeeze-off tool should provide the ¿keyhole¿ technology needed for safe, reliable, and cost effective repair of polyethylene pipe, ensuring the integrity and reliability of the Nation¿s gas distribution network. With thousands of large pipe squeeze-off operations needed annually, there is a significant commercial potential for the ¿squeeze-off¿ tool.