Methods and systems for automated pipeline testing

A cathodic protection rectifier system for an underground pipeline, the pipeline configured with a plurality of test points along a length of the pipeline, each electrically connected to the pipeline, said system comprising:

• at least one cathodic rectifier coupled to a power source and configured to apply a voltage across the pipeline and a reference point in the soil;
• a cathodic system monitor coupled to said rectifier, said monitor configured to control a switch located between said rectifier and the pipeline, said monitor further configured to measure voltages applied to the pipeline and to communicate the voltage measurements as pipeline test data, said cathodic system monitor configured to communicate utilizing a control channel of a cellular network;
• and
• a computer system configured to receive the pipeline test data from said cathodic system monitor.

A method for testing effectiveness of galvanic corrosion mitigation equipment along a length of an underground pipeline, the equipment including at least one cathodic protection rectifier (CPR) electrically coupled to the pipeline and a reference point, the pipeline coupling through a switching device, the CPR configured to apply a voltage to the pipeline, and a plurality of test points electrically connected to the pipeline and dispersed at intervals along the pipeline, the switching device being controlled by a cathodic system monitor which also includes a cellular modem and is configured to communicate with an external system utilizing cellular control channel communications, said method comprising:

• applying the CPR voltages to the pipeline;
• measuring an output voltage of each CPR;
• measuring a voltage present at each test point, the voltage being measured by a test point monitor located at each test point, each test point monitor including a cellular modem and configured to transmit the voltage reading to an external system;
• transmitting the voltage measurements to the external system over the cellular control channel;
• and
• analyzing the voltage measurements utilizing the external system.

A cathodic protection system, comprising:

• a plurality of cathodic protection rectifiers spaced at intervals along a pipeline;
• a plurality of switching devices, each said switching device configured to electrically connect one of said rectifiers to the pipeline;
• a plurality of GPS interrupters, each interrupter configured to control operation of at least one of said switching devices;
• a plurality of cathodic system monitors, each of said cathodic system monitors configured to measure an output of one of said cathodic protection rectifiers, and further configured to control operation of one of said GPS interrupters, said cathodic system monitors configured to communicate with an external system utilizing a cellular control channel;
• and
• a plurality of test point monitors spaced at intervals between said cathodic protection rectifiers, and electrically connected between the pipeline and a reference point, the reference point being a ground reference for said test point monitors, said test point monitors configured to communicate with the external system utilizing a cellular control channel.

A method for performing a cathodic protection system test utilizing a plurality of test points electrically connected to a pipeline, the cathodic protection system including a plurality of test point monitors electrically coupled to one or more of the test points along the pipeline and configured to communicate with an external system utilizing a cellular control channel, and a plurality of cathodic protection rectifiers coupled to the pipeline through switches, the switches being controlled by a GPS interrupter, said method comprising:

• configuring the test point monitors to measure a voltage at the test points;
• concurrently opening all switches which cause a voltage from the cathodic protection rectifier to be present at a test point;
• measuring the test point voltages with the test point monitors;
• concurrently closing all switches which cause a voltage from the cathodic protection rectifier to be present at a test point;
• measuring the test point voltages with the test point monitors;
• and
• transmitting the measured voltages to an external system over the cellular control channel.