Automated ultrasonics (AUT) is more reliable, faster, has better detection of critical Lack of Fusion defects in pipeline construction welds, and poses no safety hazard compared with radiography. Phased arrays also present major improvements over conventional multiprobe ultrasonics, both for onshore and for offshore use. Probe pans are lighter and smaller, permitting less cutback; scans are quicker; phased arrays are considerably more flexible for changes in pipe dimensions or weld profiles, and for different scan patterns; phased arrays can perform "specials", such as inspecting seamless pipe of variable wall, clad pipes, thick and thin sections, and use automated set-ups. This paper describes the PipeWIZARD ultrasonic phased array system for girth weld inspections, track record and acceptances, and some of the special applications. These include:• Compensating for variations in seamless pipe wall thickness.• Wedge temperature compensation.• Premium inspections for risers, tendons and other components.• Small diameter pipes.• Multiple displays.• Clad pipe.• Portable phased arrays for tie-ins and repairs.• Improved sizing approaches.
Phased arrays offer significant technical advantages for weld inspections over conventional ultrasonics. The phased array beams can be steered, scanned, swept and focused electronically. Beam steering permits the selected beam angles to be optimized ultrasonically by orienting them perpendicular to the predicted defects, especially Lack of Fusion. Electronic (linear) scanning permits very rapid coverage of the welds. Beam steering (usually called sectorial or azimuthal scanning) can be used for mapping welds at appropriate angles to optimize Probability of Detection of defects. Electronic focusing permits optimizing the beam shape and size at the expected defect location, also to optimize Probability of Detection. Overall, the use of phased arrays permits optimizing defect detection while minimizing inspection time. The paper describes the application of phased arrays for inspecting pressure vessel welds. Phased arrays offer significant practical advantages over conventional automated inspections. Thick section weld inspections typically use the established “top, side, end” or “top, side, TOFD” views of the weld. Other displays can be used, e.g. strip charts for zone discrimination scanning of narrow gap welds. Special inspections can be easily performed with phased arrays, e.g. additional beams for extra coverage, multiple angles or inspection set-ups simultaneously, or special scans such as tandem probes. Different delivery systems and instrumentation can be assembled for any required scan. Fitness-For-Service inspections requiring high PoD and accurate sizing can be performed using upscale systems. These phased array inspections can be tailored to any known code requirements.
Automated ultrasonics (AUT) is more reliable, faster, has better detection of critical Lack of Fusion defects in pipeline construction welds, and poses no safety hazard compared with radiography. Phased arrays also present major improvements over conventional multiprobe ultrasonics, both for onshore and for offshore use. Probe pans are lighter and smaller, permitting less cutback; scans are quicker; phased arrays are considerably more flexible for changes in pipe dimensions or weld profiles, and for different scan patterns; phased arrays can perform "specials", such as inspecting seamless pipe of variable wall, clad pipes, thick and thin sections, and use automated set-ups. This paper describes the PipeWIZARD ultrasonic phased array system for girth weld inspections, track record and acceptances, and some of the special applications. These include:• Compensating for variations in seamless pipe wall thickness.• Wedge temperature compensation.• Premium inspections for risers, tendons and other components.• Small diameter pipes.• Multiple displays.• Clad pipe.• Portable phased arrays for tie-ins and repairs.• Improved sizing approaches.
-Ultrasonic phased arrays present major improvements over conventional multiprobe ultrasonics for inspecting pipeline girth welds, both for onshore and for offshore use. Probe pans are lighter and smaller; scans are quicker due to the smaller probe pan; phased arrays are considerably more flexible for changes in pipe dimensions or weld profiles, and for different scan patterns. More important, some of the potential advantages of phased arrays are now becoming commercially available. These include: -Compensating for variations in seamless pipe wall thickness.-Wedge temperature compensation. -Improved focusing for thick and thin wall inspections. -Premium inspections for risers, tendons and other components.-Small diameter pipes. -Short cutback. -Multiple displays. -Clad pipe. The paper will describe the latest phased array UT results for special applications.
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