Evaluation of the feasibility of a pipeline field weld real-time radiography (radioscopy) inspection system
- Quality Consulting Co., Portland, OR (United States)
Inspection of pipeline field girth welds during pipeline construction is accomplished by film radiographic methods. Film radiography of materials is a 70 year old technology. There have been many advances in that 70 year history in equipment and films, but the process of making the radiograph is essentially the same. The film radiography process is time-consuming, costly, environmentally impacting and very operator (inspector) dependent. There are recent and almost daily advances in technologies using x-ray imaging other than film. Double-jointed pipe welds at pipe mills and at double-joint operations have been inspected with stationary real-time radioscopic systems for many years. This electronic imaging technology, known as {open_quotes}radioscopy{close_quotes}, has the potential to significantly improve pipeline project schedules and cost by eliminating some of the shortcomings of film radiography. Radioscopy is currently accepted for use by many nationally accepted standards including API-5L, Specification for Line Pipe, and API-1104, Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities. Seven years ago PRC contracted Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to research radioscopy for field application. This effort did not yield a suitable field system even though the study by SwRI concluded that it was feasible and would be cost effective.
- Research Organization:
- American Gas Association, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- American Gas Association, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 196484
- Report Number(s):
- AGA-96005995; TRN: 96:001744
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: [1996]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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