New technique monitors pipeline corrosion, cracking

Journal Article · Sun Dec 26 23:00:00 EST 1993 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5500890

Strommen, R D; Horn, H; Wold, K R ^[1]

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1. CorrOcean AS, Trondheim (Norway)

A new technique for monitoring the conditions of an in-service pipeline, continuously monitors corrosion taking place at a given point on the pipeline and remaining pipe wall thickness at any time. The Field Signature Method (FSM) has been field tested on a flow line on Shell Expos Dunlin A North Sea platform. The technique combines the advantages of corrosion probes and of non-destructive testing (NDT) inspection by being highly sensitive and responding to changes in corrosion of the actual pipe wall. It can cover relatively large areas. The FSM method is based on feeding an electric direct current through the selected sections of the structure to be monitored and sensing the pattern of the electrical field by measuring small potential differences set up on the surface of the monitored object. The FSM measures all electric potentials and compares them with initial values measured when monitoring of the object started. These values represent the initial geometry of the object and may be regarded as the object's fingerprint. Proper interpretation of these potential differences, or rather of changes in potential differences, can lead to conclusions about, for example, general wall-thickness reduction.

• OSTI ID: 5500890
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 91:52; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
022000* -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
03 NATURAL GAS
032000 -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
DATA ANALYSIS
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
PATTERN RECOGNITION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PIPELINES
REMOTE SENSING
TESTING