NDT Global (Dublin, Ireland), a leading supplier of inline inspection and data analysis, recently introduced the enhanced sizing capability to its ultrasonic crack inspection service.
Before the introduction of this capability, the company says was an industry-wide uncertainty for crack depth sizing with depths above 4 mm.
As a result, the uncertainty led operators to adopt a conservative approach in their pipeline integrity management programs. But with the new capability, the inspection group says this limitation has been removed.
To develop the capability, the company secured analyst feedback, conducted in-house research, and used simulations, models, and full-scale tests.
The innovation brings accurate depth sizing of up to 100% wall thickness. With more accurate and in-depth information about their pipelines, operators now have the ability to conduct a more proactive, rather than reactive, integrity management program, according to the inspection company.
This removal of limitations on existing crack inspection processes should also provide operators with more accurate data to improve the decisions made about their pipelines.
Source: NDT Global, www.ndt-global.com.