Elf's 20-year experience confirms effectiveness of smart pigs

Journal Article · Mon Nov 30 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:6993494

Roche, M; Samaran, J P ^[1]

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1. Societe Nationale ELF Aquitaine, Production, Pau (France)

Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine has acquired more than 20 years' experience with in-line inspection of pipelines, using tools from seven service companies. The first in-line inspection operation carried out by one of the companies affiliated with Elf Aquitaine occurred in 1971 and used a Linalog tool. This inspection was to evaluate the extent of external corrosion attacks at the bottom of a 24-in. OD, 69-km uncoated pipeline laid directly on the ground in a desert area. Later periodic inspections, performed in 1980 and 1987 on the main pipeline, detected important external corrosions in some salty areas. These attacks occurred beneath disbondments of the over the ditch-applied bituminous enamel coating. Inspections also detected internal corrosion produced by accumulation of water at low points as a result of intermittent reductions of flow velocity and even to some flow stoppages. This paper reports on service inspection in the use of pigs.

• OSTI ID: 6993494
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 90:48; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
022000* -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
42 ENGINEERING
420205 -- Engineering-- Transport & Storage Facilities-- (1980-)
COATINGS
CORROSION PROTECTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SERVICE INSPECTION
INSPECTION
INSTALLATION
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PIPELINES
PLASTICS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
POLYURETHANES
PROTECTIVE COATINGS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS