Pig performance characteristics in corrosion assessment

Conference · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:287805

Vieth, P; Rust, S W; Johnson, E; Cox, M

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (APSC) operates the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) for transporting crude oil 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. Approximately 420 miles of the pipeline is above ground and 380 miles is below ground. In-line inspection results have indicated external corrosion on portions of the below ground pipe. APSC uses periodic in-line inspections to identify, monitor, and remediate the corrosion. Results of these surveys are used to determine the presence and magnitude of corrosion by sensing a signal (either MFL or UT) produced by the metal loss anomalies. An ideal tool would be able to: detect all corrosion regardless of size, assess the actual corrosion with no measurement errors, and produce no false corrosion indications. Real in-line inspection tools exhibit varying capabilities to detect, measure, and assess corrosion on an operating pipeline. It is essential for the pipeline operator to known how reliable each tool is in order to respond in a manner which prevents a failure from excessive metal loss. Rigorous analysis of three of Alyeska`s more recent inline surveys have provided the essential performance measures to facilitate a satisfactory response plan. These performance measures were evaluated by comparing measurements of the actual corrosion (obtained from 314 excavations) to results provided by three pig runs selected for presentation in this paper.

• OSTI ID: 287805
• Report Number(s): CONF-960154--; ISBN 0-9648731-8-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
ACCURACY
ALASKA OIL PIPELINE
CORROSION
CORROSION PRODUCTS
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DETECTION
MAGNETIC TESTING
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
REPAIR
THICKNESS
TRANSPORT
ULTRASONIC TESTING
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
WALLS