Pipe Locators – acoustic, electronic & radar-based

Pipe locating is method-driven. We cover acoustic tools (ground microphone/geophone), sondes & transondes for non-metallic lines, active cable/pipe locators (transmitter ↔ receiver), PCM/CP mapping for protected pipelines and optional GPR for wide-area subsurface scans.

  • Acoustic: Ground mic/geophone to pinpoint flow and leak noise
  • Sonde/transonde: 512 Hz/33 kHz sondes & pulsed transondes for PE/PP
  • Active locating: TX–RX tracing with depth indication
  • PCM/CP mapping: Pipeline current mapping for cathodic protection assessment

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Choose the right approach

  • Task: Route tracing, crossing checks, blockage/leak pinpointing or CP condition assessment.
  • Material: Metallic → active/PCM; non-metallic → sonde/transonde; mixed/unknown → add GPR.
  • Environment: Account for interference and urban clutter (frequency plan, power, filters, acoustic coupling).
  • Records: Depth readout and logging/mapping where documentation is required.

Field practice

Inject a clean signal, confirm route by cross-checks and verify depth. Change frequency/mode if interference shows up; for acoustics, optimise contact points.