Pipeline in-line inspection challenges to NDT

Abstract

A vast network of pipelines transports large volumes of energy products over long distances from production wells to processing and consumption sites. The pipeline industry relies on nondestructive testing (NDT) methods to detect and characterize the degradation and damage. To quickly and economically survey the large portions of the infrastructure, autonomous in-line inspection tools, commonly referred to as pigs, examine the pipe from the inside as they are propelled by the product flow. Thousands of kilometres of pipelines are examined using various implementations of electromagnetic and ultrasonic modalities. Inspection tool developers are challenged to implement sensitive measurement technology on a platform that must survive the pipeline environment. This paper will review fundamental challenges that restrict the implementation of NDT technologies that are applied in other industries. The anomaly types that affect pipeline operation will also be reviewed to frame the gaps between inspection capability of existing tools and inspection needs of the pipeline industry.

A Review of the Real-Time Monitoring of Fluid-Properties in Tubular Architectures for Industrial Applications

“…On the other hand, it is evident that invasive and destructive testing methods are not recommended for tubular monitoring applications, because of their significant drawbacks. Specifically, generating permanent damage to industrial tubes by methods such as drilling out piece of the pipe, inserting bulky inspection tools or branching the tubular pathway [ 11 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. Another main disadvantage is disturbing the transferred fluid inside the tubular system by causing permeant pressure drop, energy loss, and budget rise.…”

Rényi Entropy Filter for Anomaly Detection With Eddy Current Remote Field Sensors

“…1c) Build the local histogram associated to the neighbor of each data point, which determines mass probabilities given by Eq. (9). A procedure to obtain the optimal number of bins for the histograms is presented in the Appendix.…”

“…There are many challenges that inspection tool developers must overcome. They must build inspection tools that survive the pipeline environment, meet specifications for long distance pipelines with high operational speeds, deal with pipeline abnormalities such as tight bends and obstruction in the pipe, and keep the measurement sensors in a good operating condition [9].…”

Physic perspective fusion of electromagnetic acoustic transducer and pulsed eddy current testing in non-destructive testing system

“…With the rapid development of the gas transmission industry, there is an increasing requirement for non-destructive testing (NDT) to detect and characterize the degradation damage to safeguard the integrity of the pipeline [1]. Pulsed eddy current testing (PECT), magnetic particle testing (MT), ray testing (RT), magnetic flux leakage (MFL), piezoelectric ultrasonic testing (UT) and electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) have been applied in the pipeline industry [2].…”