Ultrasonic pipeline inspection and data analysis services supplier NDT Global (Dublin, Ireland) recently introduced its Atlas ultrasonic geometry (UG) service to provide operators with more access to geometric information about their pipelines.
According to the company, the service provides a new way of conducting geometry inspections while offering a clearer picture of dents. In turn, this can improve the integrity management program for many operators.
Based on Evo Series 1.0 ultrasonic technology, the service can work in tandem with crack or metal loss services while allowing for the completion of a combined inspection of a pipeline in a single run. The data allows operators to identify areas of deformation or areas subject to previous reparations.
The tool has the ability to inspect a pipeline’s wall thickness, profile, and more, as shown in the image above. In the wall thickness scan, the two lines on either side of the dent indicate that not only is a dent present in the pipeline, but that this pipeline had repairs previously performed on it.
These lines represent a “Type B” sleeve used in the earlier repairs. One advantage of using an ultrasonic inspection, rather than a mechanical caliper-based one, to measure geometry is the availability of an extra measurement of the pipeline's wall thickness, the company explains.
Meanwhile, the standoff scan shows the shape of the dent, represented by the red and yellow coloring. Beneath this, the profile scan shows the behavior of the channel that displays the deepest point of the dent, represented by the red line. The upward movement of this red line highlights the shape of the dent present in the line.
The diameter scan is shown on the left side. Working with the profile scan, analysts can use the diameter scan to review the orientation of the dent and how it impacts on the cross-section shape of the pipeline.
The company explains that its service compares fully aligned datasets, rather than separate listings, to present operators with accurate information to locate combined threats.
This ability to highlight the presence of additional metal elements, such as the sleeve in the image, should enable operators to have better informed pipeline integrity management programs.