Combined Quantitative In-Line Inspection of Pipelines for Metal Loss and Cracks

Abstract

As awareness about pipeline integrity grows, so does the need for accurate and reliable inspection methods to provide operators with precise and reliable data for performing advanced integrity assessment calculation and optimizing maintenance processes. Until recently, the inspection of a pipeline for metal loss and cracks necessitated two separate inspection runs with two separate tools. This paper will introduce a range of advanced in-line inspection (ILI) tools that incorporate abilities to be used for quantitative metal loss and wall thickness as well as crack inspections. These tools, utilizing ultrasound technology, make use of a new generation of electronics and an entirely new design of the sensor carrier to enable metal loss and crack inspection surveys in a single run. The paper will explain the physical principle used, introduce the tool technology, present a case study and discuss the advantages to the pipeline operator.