Key Benefits of Ground Penetrating Radar for Gas Lines

We know, you have big plans for your land and want to get started today, but it’s important to take a minute and have your utilities located before you start digging — especially your gas lines.

To bypass this step could end up being a costly and deadly mistake. Imagine the damage and explosions that could occur if your excavation accidentally ruptures a gas line, and it becomes important to properly locate gas pipelines.

Natural gas is a common utility in North Texas, with lines feeding a majority of residential neighborhoods, homes and commercial locations.

Traditional commercial detection methods rely on magnetic devices and can’t detect plastic gas line locations, even though newer pipes are being constructed of plastic and ceramic materials.

In fact, 72 percent of all gas distribution pipes are plastic. These are the pipes that deliver natural gas from the main to the meters of homes and businesses.

That’s why Wood Inspection Services encourages the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to locate gas lines, gas line mapping and gas pipe inspection. As a private utility locator based in North Dallas, Wood Inspection created comprehensive GPR reports and analysis of underground gas lines. GPR is an amazingly accurate and nondestructive way to detect anomalies underground, including plastic pipelines.

GPR for Gas Lines: Damage Free

Because GPR is nondestructive, there’s a level of safety built into it. You will keep structures intact, avoid nicking any pipes and still be able to inspect the site.

Additionally, GPR can determine whether your gas line has been compromised. Gas leak detection is another bonus of GPR services — so you can proceed with caution to remedy the situation.

If you suspect a gas line leak outside, it’s important to get it checked out immediately. Leave the area and warn neighbors about the possible danger.

Signs of a gas line leak:

• Dying plants
• Bubbles in water puddles
• Visible air movement from the ground
• Dry spot inside moist ground
• Ground on fire

GPR for Gas Lines: Safer Option

GPR is great at preventing “third party” damage. This is what happens when crews strike underground utilities. Excavators, trenchers, drills and plows can’t tell when they’re about to hit a buried pipeline, so accidents are more likely to occur without GPR mapping.

According to the Office of Pipeline Safety, these types of gas pipeline incidents killed nine people, caused 45 injuries and racked up $23 million in damages in 2019 alone.

It goes without saying that gas pipelines are the most dangerous underground utilities because of the possibility of a gas leak. Difficult to detect yet highly flammable, digging near a leak or barely disturbing the compromised gas line could lead to a major explosion.

GPR for Gas Lines: Save Time

Using GPR allows crews to uaccurately pinpoint a gas line and avoid it completely.

The electromagnetic pulses reflect a gas line back to the radar’s receiver, which gives a snapshot of what’s there. Going over the spot several times, a full picture develops. And this is all without knowing anything about the utility in advance.

Having an accurate report of gas line locations from an experienced GPR technician, saves time and lowers risk. Accidents happen without accurate utility location, creating significant project delays.

So before you start digging in Texas, give Wood Inspection a call. We will perform a GPR scan to map gas lines and give you a good blueprint going forward to avoid any issues.