CMI — CURRENT MAGNETOMETRY INSPECTION
Award-winning inspection and survey for buried pipelines
CMI is a worldwide used, patented and officially certified inspection and survey method. It solves the problem of finally enabling a condition assessment of unpiggable pipelines. The technology works remotely from the earth's surface. Data output is maximised while preparations and costs are reduced to a minimum.
Why would you use CMI?
- You're interested in condition assessment of difficult to inspect/ unpiggable pipelines
- You want to perform combined seamless surveys to improve the data quality of your underground assets
- You're looking for a new way to simplify operations and digitize pipelines to make your work more efficient
WHAT TYPES OF PIPELINES CAN BE INSPECTED?
Generally, all kinds of buried pipelines made of ferromagnetic material can be inspected. The transported product does not matter. Specific limitations are service based and shall be discussed with one of our inspection specialists individually.
»Compared to ILI: no operational interruptions, no preparations, no extra personnel.«
Ruslans Sarkevic | VTTI Terminals

KEY BENEFITS OF CMI
A technology developed to ensure safe pipeline operation, and to detect metal loss in the pipe wall.
A "no-dig" technology that works remotely from the earth's surface.
No pipeline shutdown during inspection. No additional equipment, no pipeline preparation, no complicated planning.
Officially certified, excessively lab and field tested, and known to be the most reliable technology for challenging pipeline diagnostics from above ground.
Patented, certified, and used by major pipeline operators around the world for the inspection of unpiggable pipelines.
An advanced inspection tool that overcomes limitations of modern Inline Inspection (ILI) tools and can be implemented into the ECDA procedure.
MANDATORY PREPARATION BY OUR CLIENTS
Max. distance between two contact points
1,000 m
Max. height of vegetation above pipeline
20 cm
Removal of large obstacles
Such as bushes, fences and buildings
Accessibility of the inspection route, incl. landowner permissions
The distance between inspection cables and pipeline should not be less than 15 m
Pipelines located under traffic roads
Roadblocks or transportable traffic signal systems should be installed
WHAT CAN CMI OFFER?
THE MOST POWERFUL ALL-IN ONE SOLUTION FOR REMOTE MAPPING AND INSPECTION OF BURIED PIPELINES.
CMI - PHYSICS
The current magnetometry inspection method is used by major pipeline operators in the world and has been applied for several thousand of kilometres. The method has been developed in cooperation with several pipeline operators to match specific needs and overcome existing problems.
As being an electromagnetic survey technique, EMPIT is specialized in the measurement and interpretation of electromagnetic far-fields. This is because the distance between the sensors and the test object might be reaching several meters when conducting an Over-the-Line (OtL) inspection. Consequently, a good signal-to-noise ratio is key to make far-fields interpretable.
The physical principle that a circular conductor generates a circular magnetic field when a current is passed through it is used as CMI’s basis. Anomalies in the pipeline wall will cause measurable anomalies in the magnetic field. This accounts for horizontal and vertical bends, geometry changes and for metal loss in the pipe wall. Consequently, EMPIT’s algorithms can transfer the electromagnetic world into the world of integrity and mapping assessments.
With the usage of inhouse developed high-tech measurement equipment, smart analog and digital filtering, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for data post-progressing, big industry challenges have been solved. Thus, we are happy to introduce a new and worldwide unique technique to the market to survey the future and inspect the unpiggable.


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.