Remote sizing and determination of coating defects
INTEGRITY ASSESSMENT
A GAME-CHANGING SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR UNPIGGABLES
CHALLENGE
Many older pipelines around the world cannot be inspected with traditional In-Line Inspection (ILI) tools because of various challenging features (e.g. tight bends, multi-diameters, plug valves) and operating constraints such as low/no flow, or inability to interrupt supply. Many of these pipelines are located in high-impact areas – and operators face a significant challenge: How to effortlessly inspect unpiggable pipelines?
SOLUTION
To help solving this unique challenge, EMPIT has developed the Current Magnetometry Inspection (CMI). An inspection technique designed to tackle integrity threats of pipelines remotely and without direct contact to the pipeline. CMI can evaluate pipeline wall conditions from the earth's surface, and can thereby overcome limitations of traditional ILI tools. EMPIT offers its customers a diverse range of integrity services to avoid service disruptions and replacement costs, while meeting local, national and international regulations through official certification and established technology standards. These services include identification of external and internal pipe wall anomalies: e.g. general corrosion, SCC, CUI, pipe deformation and mill features. Our customers use Integrity Assessment for pipelines that cannot be inspected using traditional ILI tools and where the pipeline integrity is mostly unknown.
KEY POINTS
- Enables the remote and non-invasive inspection of all ferromagnetic pipelines
- Protect operators in the best possible way in disputes with third parties
- Used to maintain asset integrity, and to prevent it from failure
- Designed to inspect the unpiggable
Corrosion detected with CMI
CMI Inspection System
Replaced pipes
NDE of pipeline section
ANOMALIES DETECTED THROUGH CMI
01 INNER WALL / MATERIAL LOSS / GENERAL CORROSION
02 OUTER WALL / MATERIAL LOSS / GIRTH WELD ANOMALY
Position: at girth weld
Axial length: 250 mm
Circumferential width: 10 mm
Maximal material loss: 4.2 mm
Measured wall thickness (WT): 10.0 mm
Calculated remaining WT: 5.8 mm
03 OUTER WALL / MATERIAL LOSS / MILL FEATURE
Position: 115 cm in upstream direction from girth weld
Axial length: 70 mm
Circumferential width: 20 mm
Maximal material loss: 1.6 mm
Measured wall thickness (WT): 7.8 mm
Calculated remaining WT: 6.2 mm
04 OUTER WALL / MATERIAL FAILURE / CRACKING
Position: 30 cm in downstream direction from girth weld
Axial length: 410 mm
Circumferential width: 60 mm
Maximal material loss: 2.5 mm
Measured wall thickness (WT): 8.7 mm
Calculated remaining WT: 6.2 mm
05 OUTER WALL / MATERIAL DEFORMATION / DENT
Position: 20 cm in downstream direction from girth weld
Axial length: 70 mm
Circumferential width: 18 mm
Maximal material loss: 1.5 mm
Measured wall thickness (WT): 7.8 mm
Calculated remaining WT: 6.3 mm
06 OUTER WALL / MATERIAL LOSS / AXIAL GROOVING
Position: 70 cm in upstream direction from girth weld
Axial length: 290 mm
Circumferential width: 15 mm
Maximal material loss: 1.1 mm
Measured wall thickness (WT): 7.8 mm
Calculated remaining WT: 6.7 mm
ILLUSTRATIVE VISUALIZATION OF ANOMALY DETECTION
CMI allows to differentiate between punctual anomalies and areas with an increased probability of pipeline wall failure. This makes prioritization of anomalies as well as budget planning for needed actions and replacements more efficient.
CMI PIPELINE INSPECTION SYSTEM
PIPELINE OUTER DIAMETER (OD) 1)
3 inches to 36 inches
INSPECTION CURRENT
≤ 16 Aeff
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY 3)
750 m /day
MAX. MEASUREMENT ERROR PIPELINE DEPTH < 2 M
20 mm
MAXIMUM WALL THICKNESS (WT) 2)
10 mm
PLOTTING OF THE INSPECTION CURRENT USED FOR IDENTIFICATION OF COATING DEFECTS
Possible and related to current source output
DEFECT SPECIFICATIONS (AT POD ≥ 96%)
Min. length: 50 mm, min. width: 50 mm, Min. metal loss: 50% of WT
PIPELINE DEPTH (TO THE AXIS)
Up to 2 m
MAXIMUM PIPELINE RANGE BETWEEN TWO CONTACT POINTS
1.5 km
MINIMUM PEAK METAL LOSS DETECTION
20% of wall thickness
MINIMUM DISTANCE TO PARALLEL PIPELINES (WALL TO WALL) 4)
60 cm
Inspection distance
Not limited
1) Inspection of pipelines with OD up to 42” is possible / 2) Larger WT by request / 3) Dependent on the ground condition (smoothness etc.) / 4) Dependent on outer diameter
CASE STUDY
INTEGRITY – CASE STUDY
CMI drone performs integrity assessment to ensure pipeline safety
It’s for a reason that we are amongst Germany’s Top 100 innovators. Because our mission is to overcome these inspection challenges and, together with our clients, continuously improve the safety and reliability of all pipelines.