Pigging Q&A part four: Weatherford
Published by Elizabeth Corner,
Senior Editor
World Pipelines,
We asked. They answered. Pigging experts from Weatherford discuss intelligent pigs and best practice.
By Mark Slaughter, Global Product Line Manager – Inline Inspection, Weatherford, USA.
Q
How would you define a high-resolution inspection tool? What kind of results can you expect from running such tools?
A
The term “high-resolution tool” evolved 25 years ago when ILI tools started to incorporate digital technology. Digital technology allowed for more data storage capability, allowing for a higher sensor density (circumferential resolution) and a higher rate of digital sampling (axial resolution).
Today, the term “high-resolution” is meaningless from an integrity management perspective. It is an outdated marketing term that provides no clear definition of the ILI tool’s measurement capability.
Integrity engineers working for pipeline operating companies are interested in the detection and measurement capability of the ILI tool. In other words, they are interested in the anomaly sizing specification. This is the information that is used when performing their integrity assessments. For this reason, experienced pipeline operators review the detection and sizing specifications of a vendor’s ILI tool.
Q
According to recent data from the NEB (relating to Canada), the past decade has seen a threefold increase in the rate of product releases from pipelines being reported. What is causing this and how does ILI fit in to this picture?
A
I can only speak in general terms about ILI technology development and pipeline integrity. The use of pipelines for the transportation of hydrocarbons is, without question, the safest mode of transportation. However, the pipeline industry faces many challenges. Globally, there is an ageing pipeline infrastructure that suffers from various types of integrity threats. ILI plays a crucial role in mitigating these threats. In fact, without ILI, there would be an enormous increase in pipeline releases.
ILI tool technology has, in some respects, plateaued. Transitioning the technology to a higher level of capability would require an unprecedented financial investment. This investment would allow the industry to leverage new technological innovations from other industries. In contrast to this investment requirement, most ILI products have evolved into a commodity. This has led to severe price erosion. As a result, there is a general trend by ILI service providers towards cost reduction.
UTCD tool launch.
Q
Are ‘unpiggable pipelines’ a thing of the past?
A
The short answer is yes, for the most part. To be clear, there has always been a solution for many unpiggable pipelines. But the solutions were often impractical due to the high cost or too much interruption in service.
Some unpiggable technologies have now been developed and commercialised, but many are still in the development stages. As demand increases, there will be more development and commercialisation of these important products.
The full version of this article is published in the February issue of World Pipelines. To see this article in full, including responses to the questions listed below, click here to subscribe and receive a downloadable PDF of the February issue.
Q
Which technologies are available to inspect circumferential seam welds for small cracks and flaws? Will some small cracks always evade smart pig detection? What is the minimum size of a detectable defect?
Q
How important is it for pipeline engineers to know about pressure and MAOP? How does pressure affect the inspection work you carry out?
Q
How does your company use ILI datasets?
Q
Which codes and practises are crucial towards gaining a better understanding of pipeline integrity?
Q
Which new, or developing, technologies for ILI will have the most impact on the way pipelines are inspected in the future? What other technologies rival smart pigs?
Edited from an article published in the February 2014 issue of World Pipelines by Elizabeth Corner
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/21022014/pigging_qanda_part_four_weatherford/
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