The energy sector has improved its standards to ensure that Canada’s pipelines remain safe as they age, with many ‘vintage’ pipelines being 40 to 80 years old. The updated standards were influenced by new knowledge of stress and corrosion gained from neutron diffraction. This knowledge had an immediate impact on the pipeline industry, informing decision-making about manufacturing methods and welding processes to ensure safety and reliability.
Similarly, Transport Canada updated its Track Safety Rules regarding the frequency of ultrasonic testing of railroad tracks following neutron diffraction analysis on rails associated with the train derailment that spilled over 800,000 litres of oil into Lake Wabamun in Alberta.
Today, research using neutrons to ensure industrial safety and reliability continues to be needed to manage aging infrastructure.
