Pipeline Inspection
22 April
2009 Aberdeen
Evening Meeting
Chairman David Kaye,
Aquamarine Power
Sponsored by Atkins Boreas, Seebyte, Subsea Integrity
Group (SIG) and Welaptega
Report
by David Kaye
Flyer
Overview
This SUT evening meeting
looked at some recent developments in pipeline inspection.
Inspection is an integral part of the integrity management of subsea
pipelines, but is an area where significant cost savings and
improvements in integrity can be made through more detailed, more
effective and better targeted inspection techniques. This evening
meeting looked at new methods for inspecting pipeline wall
thickness, latest developments using AUVs as a platform for in-water
inspection of pipelines, advanced photogrammetric methods for
modelling of pipelines and recent thinking on pipeline inspection
planning.
Presentations
Inspecting
Un-piggable Pipelines with Guided Ultrasonics
Steve Banks, Subsea
Integrity Group (SIG)
Guided wave ultrasonics has
the unique capability of screening large sections of pipeline,
propagating under coatings and into riser splash zone areas from a
single test location. The technology has evolved over the past five
years into an effective screening method that can be applied across
the entire subsea pipeline system. This presentation describes some
of the technologies deployed by SIG and looks at some recent case
studies inspecting large-diameter (48-inch) subsea pipe and riser
splash zones.
AUV
Pipeline Inspections Made Possible Using AutoTracker
Jonathan Evans, Seebyte
AutoTracker is an
intelligent payload that paints a picture of the seabed and
interprets that picture so that it can instruct the AUV to maintain
a constant offset from a pipeline. The payload is capable of
accurately trackin a single pipeline amongst multiple pipelines and
on varied terrains. In addition, AutoTracker includes advanced
search routines that enable it to recover the pipeline track after
an unexpected pipeline burial. This talk described some of the
achievements and recent work that has been carried out using
low-logistics AUVs.
Optimisation of Pipeline Inspection Strategy
Andrew Pople, Atkins
Boreas
The subsea pipeline network
on the UKCS is extensive. Inspection of the system represents a
significant portion of the cost and effort associated with managing
this infrastructure. The industry approach to integrity management
for pipelines has not changed significantly since the introduction
of risk-based inspection (RBI) some 10–15 years ago. RBI allows
critical failure models to be identified, but does not assist with
the associated questions: how often shall we inspect and what shall
we look for? In light of this, Atkins Boreas has recently been
developing new thinking with regard to the optimisation of
inspection strategies. This presentation outlines the key ideas
behind this new approach.
Advanced 3D Modelling
Anthony Hall, CEO of
Welaptega Marine
Three-dimensional modelling
uses advanced photogrammetric techniques to generate geometrically
accurate 3D models, called surface elevation maps (SEMs) from
high-resolution digital images. The scalar models make it possible
to conduct unprecedented high detail investigations into
component conditions, and to characterise the effects of
deteriorative mechanisms (e.g. wear, corrosion, pitting) on material
integrity. The accuracy of the model is dependent on the resolution
of the images; under ideal conditions, sub-millimetric accuracy can
be achieved from subsea images. Three-dimensional modelling
techniques make it possible to take direct measurements, calculate
area and volumes, and conduct a full array of dimensional analyses
(e.g. cross-sections, min-max analyses) using industry-standard CAD
packages. Models can also be formatted for compatibility with finite
element analysis software programs, allowing the use of SEMs to be
the basis for remediation/repair design and planning of subsea
components
5 Minute Technology Bite
Reliability of
Real Structures by Directional Simulation
Ivar Iverson, Prospect
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