ROV IT performing a subsea pipeline inspection.

Pipeline Inspection

Sonomatic has a long history of providing specialist inspections that deliver quality data on pipeline conditions. Our approach is to provide data and analysis that maximises the value of the inspection to the client. We can deliver our pipeline inspection services both topside and subsea.

Pipelines are key assets for operator companies and continued pipeline integrity underlies successful business performance. They are essential to oil and gas production and failures or unplanned downtime can have a major impact on company revenues. Failures can also have severe pipeline safety and/or environmental damage consequences.

Sonomatic assists operators by providing a range of pipeline inspections and integrity services including innovative statistical analysis methods that ensure decision making is aligned to the real condition of pipelines. These methods offer a significantly more representative view of pipeline condition and remaining life than traditional methods of data analysis and application of inspection data in pipeline inspection integrity assessments.

The application of Sonomatic’s analysis methods leads to major benefits for oil and gas pipeline operators.

Quantitative Pipeline Assessments

Sonomatic has a long history of providing specialist quantitative subsea pipeline inspections on pipeline conditions, providing data that will offer the accuracies required that are suitable to use as part of the life extension study.

Inspection performance requirements, concerning the accuracy of measurement and Probability of Detection (POD), are key to ensuring a low coverage inspection provides a sufficient basis for statistical analysis of data.

Quantitative pipeline assessment.
Advantages of Quantitative Assessments in inspection services include:

Qualitative Pipeline Assessments

For pipelines, where ILI (In-Line intelligent pigs) is considered too costly and a low coverage quantitative inspection does not provide suitable coverage to fulfil the requirements of a corrosion risk assessment, then qualitative inspection methods should be considered. Screening inspection is a less invasive method and typically provides for higher coverage; however, they typically provide a coarse percentage of wall loss at each location.

Screening techniques such as medium-range horizontally polarised guided shear waves, introduced by electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) and/or Multiskip, using shear wave pulse echo probes in a pitch/catch mode of operation, make screening of the pipeline possible and can provide a more global perspective of the pipeline.

Qualitative pipeline assessments.
Advantages of Qualitative Assessments in inspection services include:
  • Preferential weld root corrosion/erosion.
  • Internal corrosion/erosion.
  • Through coatings using SH-EMAT’s/multiskip techniques.
  • Screening for pipelines.
  • Probabilistic integrity assessments.
  • Bespoke, ROV deployed magnetic crawling equipment.
  • Does not require dredging of the pipeline.
  • Identify areas of interest for follow up quantitative inspection.

Pipeline Weld Inspection

The operating conditions and design of oil and gas pipelines may be such that it is susceptible to cracking in-service. Crack growth can be driven by cyclic loading (fatigue) or by the chemistry of the operating environment (stress corrosion cracking or environmentally assisted cracking). These damage mechanisms are more frequently encountered in welds but can also be present in the parent material.

Cracking can be a significant threat to the pipeline asset integrity, with the potential for catastrophic pipeline failure in the form of rupture, hence cracking mechanisms are a consideration in the integrity management of pipelines.

Pipeline inspection services play a vital role in providing and/or validating whether or not a cracking mechanism is present, the dimensions and locations of cracks present, the growth rate and distribution of growth rate for tracks and the characteristics of cracks, so that the mechanism can be understood.

The reliability of this information is fundamental to oil and gas pipeline integrity and operational decisions.

Pipeline weld inspection.
Pipeline Weld Inspection techniques and advantages include:
  • Automated shear wave pulse echo
  • Eddy current technologies
  • Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD)
  • Consistent performance with minimised human factor effects.
  • Substantially improved Probability of Detection (POD).
  • Improved sizing capability.
  • Accurate positional control.
  • Accurate position information for each scan.
  • Full recording of all data for more detailed analysis.
  • Reliable repeat comparisons.

Sonomatic Oil and Gas Pipeline Inspection Services

Our pipeline inspection services help our customers meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and enhance the safety, productivity and life of their assets. Our technicians are highly trained and experienced in the latest pipeline inspection technologies, and our advanced data management capabilities ensure that all pipeline data is accurately captured and stored.

We also offer a range of other pipeline-related services, including pipeline repair and maintenance, to help our customers keep their pipelines in top condition. With our comprehensive pipeline inspection program and maintenance services, we can help our customers extend the life of their pipelines, improve safety and compliance, and boost productivity.

Project Examples

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