• PRCI PR-003-9717
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PRCI PR-003-9717

  • Multiple In-Line Inspection Technologies
  • Report / Survey by Pipeline Research Council International, 07/01/2000
  • Publisher: PRCI

$398.00$795.00


L51827e

Battelle Memorial Institute

Need: The integrity of a pipeline must often be assessed as part of routine maintenance or to qualify increases in class or service pressure. In-Line inspection tools provide one method of making such an assessment. Commonly, an in-line inspection tool uses only one technology. Each technology has strengths and weaknesses, and inspection tools that are well suited for certain defect types (for example, pitting corrosion) often do not reliably detect or size other defects (e.g., weld seam corrosion). Therefore, it is difficult for pipeline companies to fully assess a pipeline using a single in-line inspection run. In order to determine the best in-line inspection tool or tools to be used PRCI sponsored and funded research to evaluate each in-line inspection tool technology and how and when best to apply such technology to meet a pipeline company integrity assessment requirements.

Benefits: Combinations of technologies were evaluated by collecting and comparing information on the capabilities of different technologies and by evaluating the operational requirements of each. Results include; definition of important defect characteristics, determination of system constraints, evaluation of inspection technologies and determination of inspection technology capabilities and limitations, survey results of pipeline and in-line inspection companies, evaluation of inertial mapping and caliper capabilities and finally an evaluation of technology combinations. Based on the results, several examples of combinations of technologies were identified that may be sucessfully used to detect, locate the position of, and characterize different types of defects. The results of this study also identified what in-line inspection technology is best for particular circumstances and the conditions under which the technology would provide optimal results.

Result: Pipeline companies benefit from this work by properly selecting the optimal in-line inspection tool for the job thus minimizing operational costs and maximizing resulting integrity information provided from the tool. Individual pipeline companies, in-line inspection tool developers, and consortia benefit from the results of this work by being able to move more quickly from concept to prototype tool development. Inherent weaknesses in inspection methodologies have been identified, as well as promising combinations of technologies for detecting and characterizing important defect parameters.

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