Technologies
Remote insulated joint continuity testing for CP assets.
Remote insulated joint monitoring for cathodic protection systems. The platform continuously measures pipe-to-pipe voltage across insulated joints, supports radio frequency joint insulation sensing, applies controlled diagnostic loading, estimates isolation resistance and leakage behaviour, and prepares Myriota satellite telemetry-ready integrity data for remote CP infrastructure.
Remote Continuity Test Method
Measure Vjoint
Measure open-circuit pipe-to-pipe voltage between Pipe A and Pipe B. This provides the baseline electrical condition of the insulated joint under normal CP operating conditions.
Apply Known Loads
Apply controlled diagnostic loading one branch at a time. The system compares unloaded and loaded voltage behaviour without permanently bonding the joint.
Estimate Isolation
Estimate effective isolation resistance and leakage current from the change in measured voltage under known loading conditions.
Report Remotely
Package voltage, isolation estimate, leakage estimate, selected test state, status flags, and sequence data for Myriota satellite remote telemetry.
Press once to run an insulated joint continuity test.
The sequence below shows an operator initiating a remote insulated joint continuity test. The field unit measures Pipe A to Pipe B voltage, applies controlled diagnostic loading, estimates isolation resistance and leakage behaviour, then sends the result snapshot through the Myriota satellite network.
Operator starts a controlled insulated joint continuity test from the remote dashboard.
Command packet is uplinked, relayed and delivered to the remote IJ monitor.
The unit samples the buried pipe leads, switches a known resistor branch and then removes the branch after measurement.
Resistance estimate, leakage estimate, selected branch and status flags are prepared for telemetry.
How The Monitoring System Operates
The monitoring system connects across both sides of the insulated joint and measures the natural pipe-to-pipe potential difference under normal cathodic protection operating conditions. This open-circuit measurement is used as the baseline reference for subsequent analysis.
Controlled diagnostic loading is then applied across the joint for short measurement intervals. By comparing the loaded and unloaded voltage conditions, the system estimates effective isolation resistance and leakage behaviour without creating a permanent conductive bond.
The platform evaluates voltage stability, leakage trends, and abnormal transfer behaviour that may indicate contamination, moisture ingress, conductive bypass paths, grounding faults, or deteriorating insulated joint performance.
Processed measurement data is packaged into compact telemetry payloads for remote Myriota satellite reporting, allowing long-term integrity trending and alarm-based monitoring of isolated cathodic protection assets.
RISO
ALARM
Field-ready architecture for insulated joint monitoring.
- Continuously measures pipe-to-pipe insulated joint voltage using precision differential acquisition.
- Applies controlled high-impedance diagnostic loading to estimate effective isolation resistance and leakage behaviour.
- Monitors changing electrical characteristics that may indicate conductive contamination, moisture ingress, or isolation degradation.
- Supports RF isolation transfer analysis for identifying abnormal coupling behaviour across insulated joints.
- Packages processed integrity measurements into telemetry-ready payloads for remote satellite reporting.
- Designed for long-term monitoring of remote cathodic protection assets where manual inspection is limited or infrequent.
RF Isolation Transfer Analysis
In addition to conventional DC isolation testing, the platform can support RF Isolation Transfer analysis for identifying abnormal conductive or capacitive coupling across insulated joints.
A controlled low-energy test signal is introduced through the protected measurement network while the system measures the amount of transferred signal appearing on the opposite side of the insulated joint. The received signal level is compared against the transmitted reference level to calculate RF transfer behaviour.
Changes in RF transfer characteristics may indicate conductive contamination, moisture bridging, degraded insulation, unintended bonding, or evolving joint deterioration that may not yet appear in conventional DC resistance measurements.
Radio frequency joint insulation sensing analysis provides an additional diagnostic layer for long-term condition trending and remote integrity assessment of critical cathodic protection isolation infrastructure.
Isolation and Leakage Calculation
Voltage-Based Isolation Estimate
The system first measures the open-circuit joint voltage, then measures the voltage again with a known diagnostic load applied. The voltage change is used to estimate the effective isolation resistance of the joint.
Leakage Behaviour
The estimated isolation resistance can be used to calculate an approximate leakage current at the measured joint voltage. This provides a practical trend metric for remote condition monitoring.
Telemetry Payload
Each completed measurement sequence can be compressed into a small telemetry payload for satellite transmission. The payload is intended to support remote trending, alarms, and maintenance planning.
Vjoint
Pipe A to Pipe B voltage measured before diagnostic loading.
Riso Estimate
Estimated effective isolation resistance calculated from controlled loaded measurements.
Leakage Estimate
Derived leakage current estimate based on the measured voltage and isolation estimate.
Status Flags
Measurement validity, low signal, overrange, selected test state, radio frequency joint insulation sensing status, and alarm indicators.
Field Test Procedure
Pre-Connection Checks
Confirm the joint ID, site conditions, work authority, and expected CP operating state. Measure Pipe A to Pipe B voltage with a handheld meter before connecting the monitor.
Connect Across The Joint
Connect the monitor leads to the two sides of the insulated joint using approved CP test leads, test posts, or operator-approved flange connection points.
Measure Open-Circuit Voltage
Measure and record the natural pipe-to-pipe voltage with no diagnostic load applied. This value becomes the baseline Vopen reading.
Run Diagnostic Loading
Apply one known test state at a time, measure the loaded voltage, then remove the load. The monitor selects the most reliable branch for isolation estimation.
Radio Frequency Joint Insulation Sensing Analysis
Run low-energy RF isolation transfer analysis to evaluate abnormal conductive or capacitive coupling across the insulated joint as part of the standard diagnostic procedure.
Transmit Result
Queue the processed measurement values and status flags for Myriota satellite telemetry or local retrieval.
Measurement Interpretation
The monitoring system is intended to support insulated joint assessment in accordance with operator cathodic protection procedures and integrity management programs.
Measured values should be interpreted alongside standard field measurements such as pipe-to-soil potentials, ON/OFF surveys, interference testing, and site inspection records.
Isolation resistance estimates, leakage calculations, and RF transfer behaviour are diagnostic indicators for trending and remote condition assessment rather than standalone certification measurements.
Alarm thresholds and acceptance criteria should be defined by the pipeline operator, asset owner, or governing cathodic protection standard applicable to the installation.
Typical Field Applications
Transmission Pipelines
Remote monitoring of insulated flange joints, buried isolation points, and hard-to-access CP assets.
Tank Farms
Isolation verification between protected structures, earthing systems, and bonded metallic assets.
Remote Infrastructure
Satellite-enabled condition monitoring for locations where manual inspection is costly or infrequent.
Test Record
A complete insulated joint record should include site ID, joint ID, Pipe A to Pipe B voltage, selected diagnostic test state, estimated isolation resistance, leakage estimate, RF transfer status where enabled, telemetry sequence number, and any alarm or validity flags.