An unpiggable pipeline (also non-piggable or nonpiggable) is any pipeline that cannot be inspected using conventional inline inspection (ILI) tools due to design, geometry, or operational constraints.

An unpiggable pipeline (also non-piggable or nonpiggable) is any pipeline that cannot be inspected using conventional inline inspection (ILI) tools due to design, geometry, or operational constraints. With an estimated 30–50% of the world’s pipelines classified as unpiggable, this represents the single largest inspection gap in global pipeline integrity management.

Common unpiggable characteristics:
• Small or multi-diameter sections
• Tight bends, back-to-back bends, or mitered bends
• No pig launcher/receiver facilities
• Unbarred tees, dead legs, and crossovers
• Low/no flow or insufficient pressure
• Offshore platforms and subsea tie-ins with limited access
• Older pipelines with bore restrictions or internal obstructions

EMPIT invented Current Magnetometry Inspection (CMI) to solve the unpiggable challenge. CMI is a patented aboveground inspection technology that assesses buried pipeline condition from the surface — requiring no internal access, no excavation, no flow, and no shutdowns. CMI delivers:

• Corrosion detection with active/passive classification
• 3D pipeline geometry and position mapping
• Depth of cover measurement
• Coating condition assessment
• Bending strain and movement analysis

With 10,000+ pipelines inspected and 300+ TB of magnetometry data collected, CMI has been field-proven across 30+ countries for onshore, offshore, and subsea unpiggable pipelines.