Longrange Ultrasonic Method for Detection of Degradation in Buried, Unpiggable Pipelines

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Long-range Ultrasonic Method for Detection of
Degradation in Buried, Unpiggable Pipelines

• GOAL Demonstrate a pipeline inspection method
  that
• Is sensitive to pipe wall thickness loss
• Implemented into a ILI tool
• Small enough or partially collapse to allow
  passage through internal restrictions
• TASK
• Increase effective range for buried pipe sound
  focusing
• Improve quantification capabilities frequency
  tuning
• Benchmark data against MFL establish signal
  signatures
• RFEC evaluation

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General DescriptionCapabilities

• Test ranges is 100 feet in each direction from
  set-up location, i.e., 200 feet (buried
  pipeline)
• Detects metal loss anomalies such as corrosion
  and erosion on ID or OD surface
• Locates pipe features - welds, supports, elbows,
  attachments, etc.
• Direct access to pipe required 18 inches around
  circumference 6 inch vertical clearance
  required
• Not affected by close proximity of other pipes
• Provides 100 volumetric examination, 360º over
  test range
• Sensitive to metal loss equivalent down to 9 of
  pipe wall cross-section under field conditions
• Sensitivity increased to 3 under some conditions

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General Description Fixed-ring Tooling 2 to
6-inch