Robot makes repairs on live London gas mains

The Cast Iron Robotic Repair Inspection System, or CIRRIS, consists of two complimentary robots. CIRRIS XI carries out inspection, collating data on the condition of large diameter metallic mains while travelling through the pipes. Sensors monitor corrosion levels, wall thickness and the stress the pipe is under - a level of analysis that SGN claims is a world first.

CIRRIS XR is the repair robot. It injects sealant into the walls and joints of the piping, repairing leaks and helping to prevent future damage. According to SGN, the system can inspect and repair hundreds of metres of live gas main from one small excavation, improving safety and minimising disruption to road users and gas customers. CIRRIS is currently being trialled in South London, with rollout across the network planned for spring 2016.

“We’re thrilled to be trialling CIRRIS on live gas mains in London,” said Gus McIntosh, SGN innovation and new technology manager. “It’s all part of us transforming how we work in the street – we want to develop innovative solutions to repair pipes that are causing us issues now and identify others before they cause issues in the future.”