Hydrostatic testing has historically been the accepted approach to detecting critical pipeline flaws. While hydrostatic testing is an alternate approach to ensure the reliability of a line, it is not ideal due to the possibility of damage to the asset as well as the interruption in the product flow.

As ILI is the most efficient pipeline integrity management tool, an operator published a request for proposal (RFP) to develop and provide a solution that delivered a step-change in crack inline inspection (ILI) performance for challenging seam-weld geometries. End-user expectations were defined, allowing vendors to propose a solution they believed would be most likely to deliver on those expectations.

The RFP included a series of aspirational goals for feature characterization in a range of seam welds, flaw types and morphologies, operational characteristics, and management of human factors. While accuracy and consistency for characterization of the types and severity of cracking in a pipeline was the primary goal, the operator also expected a new technology to fit within or improve upon the operational envelope of the currently available ILI crack tools.

• The achieved performance, nearly comparable to an NDE depth tolerance, is possible due to the direct measurement of the crack tip depth.

• Depth sizing accuracy, in combination with the delivery of the local wall thickness in the weld, allows the operator to improve the assessment and move towards an effective and efficient crack management program.

• PROTON’s versatility allows the configuration of multiple ultrasonic techniques (i.e., pulse echo, pitch & catch) for unparalleled detection, identification, and sizing depending on the inspection application.

• Optimized measurement scenarios for a variety of threats can be programmed – including axial and circumferential resolution and the refracting angle of each single shot. This provides the most accurate results as the inspection system is tailored to the unique conditions of each pipeline.

• PROTON’s accuracy and versatility was configured for this specific application, which was a key piece in the removal of the hydrostatic testing.