Smart pigs assess reliability of corroded pipelines
- British Gas plc, Northumberland (United Kingdom)
- British Gas plc, Newcastle upon Tyne (United Kingdom)
Pipeline operating companies are relying more and more on high-resolution, magnetic pigs to inspect onshore and offshore pipelines for corrosion. Data derived from these corrosion surveys can be used to develop a safe future operating strategy. British Gas has successfully developed and applied a realistic deterministic analysis for corroded pipelines. It involves identification and calculation of failure pressure and time to failure of corroded pipe spools with the highest risk of failure. High-resolution, intelligent pigs (smart pigs) can accurately detect, size, and locate corrosion in pipelines. Once corrosion is detected, the operator needs to known if the corrosion will affect the integrity of the pipeline and when it could fail from further corrosion growth. This information can be used to develop a pipeline de-rating schedule, implement a repair or replacement program, determine if re-inspection is necessary, and evaluate effectiveness of a corrosion inhibitor program. Such methods are described.
- OSTI ID:
- 49312
- Journal Information:
- Pipeline and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Pipeline and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 222; ISSN PLGJAT; ISSN 0032-0188
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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