1. Span field analysis to support the German Energy Transition Identification of cathodic interference on pipelines
Pipeline Technology Conference, Berlin, March 20th, 2019
Dr. Eva Benz
BIL eG, Germany

2. BIL eG – Founding Foundation June 15th, 2015 at BP in Bochum
Foundation by 17 German pipeline companies
Legal form: registered cooperative (“eG”), i.e. no commercial interest and non-profit
First German web-portal for construction enquiries at no charges
Operational start:
February 29th, 2016
40 weeks implementation
10 weeks customer testing
Continuous operation for now 37 months (99,6 %)
PTC 2019

3. We are ... (all branches) BIL participating companies (70): PTC 2019

4. What we really do….
….. Identifying and informing of relevant operators:
Standardised digging enquiry
Research of operators
Responsibility check
Reporting and archiving
Identification of inductive interference on cathodic corrosion protection
Today‘s focus!
PTC 2019

5. German Energy Transition Challenges
Capacity increase (weather-dependent) Capacity increase (all-year)
Electricity Transmission: Balance fluctuating renewables energy supply of widely distributed generators via the grid
AC power lines collect wind power in the north, solar power in the south
DC lines provide the electricity balance between north and south
Optimisation of the electricity grid is necessary:
New transmission lines and
Increase regional available capacity of existing grid (up to max. 150 %)
Source: Amprion
PTC 2019

6. Physical introduction Inductive long-term influenceIU
Earth rope IW IV
B(IU) IV
B(IV)
B(IW) IW IU
B(IW)
B(IU)
B(IV)
The maximum influencing voltage on third-party systems must not exceed 60 V during operation - see technical regulations VDE and DVGW GW 22
Resulting magnetic field a
pipeline
Source: Amprion
PTC 2019

7. Span field analysis Process of BIL responsibility check
Enquiry based on „span fields“
Segmentation of the area around high voltage (HV) cables into span fields
Required buffering of the HV line: to m on both sides form the span field between two power poles
Resulting rectangles form the basis for responsibility check carried out by BIL
Identification of responsible pipelines
Determination of responsible BIL participants for each span field
Direct contacting of HV operator with respective BIL participant for individual coordination
Example
HV cable
Span field of investigation
Power pole
PTC 2019

8. Span field analysis - summary
Enquirer (here: TSO)
BIL
BIL Participant (pipeline operators)
creates the enquiry and uploading the span field information
receives span field list and responsible participants (BIL responsibility check)
… matches span field area with operational grid data of the pipeline operator
 Enabler for communication
receives enquiry if responsibility check is positive
processes request according to own workflow (reply possible, but optional)
Joint coordination and communication on the basis of existing enquiry and its results for both parties.
PTC 2019

9. Example: BIL enquiry by TSO
PTC 2019

10. Example: BIL-result on enquiry
Enquiry “Soonwald West”
235 Span fields
28 Span fields identified with responsibilities
(2)
(1)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2) ….
Export
Repeat enquiry
OGE, RMR, Thyssengas
PTC 2019

11. Geospatial analysis & interpretation Interpretation when one or more operators are affected
BIL-Participants
count
Open Grid Europe GmbH
275
ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH 59
Gasunie Deutschland Transport Services GmbH 55
Thyssengas GmbH 30
Nowega GmbH 22
Nord-West Oelleitung GmbH 13
Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH 9
PTC 2019

12. Inductive Interference
Outlook of BIL
Excavation
Communication
Inductive Interference
Inductive Inteference – technical component
Communiction – doppeldeutig: n to n communication of markte particpants and technical idea behind communication
Requirement: Underground business, increase safety, reduce research effort, facilitate communication, save resources!
PTC 2019

13. … your questions? Visit us at our PTC booth No. 17!
PTC 2019