A North American pipeline operator contracted NDT Global to inspect an 18" Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) pipeline for cracks, including hook cracks. The pipeline transported blended NGL, which made the inspection process complicated by the nature of the medium.

Performing ultrasonic crack inspections in a challenging medium such as blended NGL requires a thorough understanding of certain parameters. One of the biggest challenges is determining the sound velocity in the medium as changes in operational and environmental conditions such as pressure and temperature can affect ultrasound propagation angles and lead to measurement degradation.

Typically, when faced with a challenging medium, the inspection tool is deployed in a batch of a standard medium, such as diesel. However, in this instance, the operator sought a solution that could be deployed directly in the NGL product. Working closely with the pipeline operator, an extensive testing and validation process was initiated.

• After conducting a thorough inspection of the NGL pipeline, the NDT Global team delivered comprehensive results to the operator. The team identified, sized and reported several complex crack-like features, including possible hook cracks. The data analysis process was completed, and the final report was delivered to the operator.

• The inspection data was then validated using NDE measurements by an independent third-party contractor. Supported by NDT Global’s field verification team, PAUT was used to characterize complex crack geometries. This validation confirmed the results were accurate and reliable.

• A major breakthrough in this inspection was NDT Global’s advancement in ultrasonic crack inspection. This advancement has eliminated the need for batching alternative mediums like oil or refined products, allowing the use of precise ultrasonic crack detection technology in most NGL pipelines. The inspection yielded highly accurate detection and sizing results for challenging crack-like features, including hook cracks.