MFL-COMBO Tools – Technology and Experiences

Operation and inspection of infield pipelinesStavanger, 9th of December 2009

Hubert Lindner

ROSEN Technology and Research Center

Combo Tools - Technologies

Metal Loss

Pipeline Threads

Geometry Cracks

Introduction

The combination of inspection technologies

... improves the performance

... extend the application range

of the pipeline inspection

Combo Tools - Technologies

of the pipeline inspection

The combination of inspection technologies

... reduce the operational risk

... is cost effective

Combined evaluation of independent measurements

Accuracy

two independent methods

improvement of accuracy:

[LEVENSON 2000]

2

MFL

2

UTcomb2

1α+α=α

Probability of Identification

Inspection 1 (UT)

ImprovementProbability of Identification

two independent methods

improvement of POI:

[PITMAN 1993]

)P1()P1(1P MFLUTcom −∗−−= Inspection 2 (MFL)

Improvement

Combo Tools - Focus MFL

High Resolution

MFL MFL

Operation at Magnetic Saturation: 10 – 30 kA/m

Residual Magnetization after MFL Inspection

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

Mag

neti

zati

on

B

(T

)

Range of Operation

for MFL investigation

Combo Tools - High Quality Inspection

-2.50

-2.00

-1.50

-1.00

-0.50

0.00

0.50

-5.00 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00

Exciting Magnetic Field H (kA/m)

Mag

neti

zati

on

B

(T

)

Remnant Magnetization

Importance of Magnetic Saturation

• signal to noise ratio is improved

• reduced spurious effects

(stress, remnant magnetization, speed effects)

Combo Tools - High Quality Inspection

saturated !

H = 18 kA/m

insufficient !

H = 7 kA/m

Combo Tools - Saturation and Tool Speed

Magnetic Saturation Non Saturated

Combo Tools - AFD measurement principle

Magnetization in circumferential direction

Axial Flaw Detection Tool | Thomas Beuker | August-2008

6’’ – 56’’: 14 Tool sizes

Resolution: 2.9 mm

Detection of small axially orientated features

Combo Tools - AFD 40” with active Speed Control

Axial Flaw Detection Tool | Thomas Beuker | August-2008

168 Carrier => 1344 Channels

Combo Tools - Pipe Body General Corrosion

AFD

Heavy Seamless Pipe

Axial Flaw Detection Tool | Thomas Beuker | August-2008

CDP

Combo Tools - Focus Geometry

High Resolution

MFL

eXtended Resolution Geometry

MFL

The Solution on Accuracy

ROSEN Contour Following Proximity Sensor

(Compensated Deflection)

Radius Measurement

====

δδδδ

====

δδδδ Touchless Proximity Sensor

++++

ββββ Electronic Angle Sensorββββ

Combo Tools - Focus Geometry Inspection

eXtended Resolution Geometry Tools

gouge with dent

RoGeo · Xt 42”

Combo Tools – Geometry Inspection

16” Anchor Damage XGP 14”/18” Data

Combo Tools - Focus Corrosion

High Resolution

MFL

shallow internal

corrosion

(SIC)

eXtended Resolution Geometry

MFL

Combo Tools – Shallow Internal Corrosion (SIC)

SIC Sensor (reality) SIC Sensor (schematic)

Sensor over full pipewall Sensor over metal loss

Amplitude change

Phase movement

Pipe wall

Combo Tools – SIC and MFLD

efe

ct

ran

ge

co

ve

red

by e

ac

h

se

ns

or

typ

e:

Sample pipe of 30 mm WT.

+/- 0.5 mm

+/- 3.0 mm DxD

SIC

De

fec

t ra

ng

e c

ove

red

by e

ac

h

se

ns

or

typ

e:

De

pth

Siz

ing

Ac

cu

rac

y

+/- 10% WT

+/- 1.6% WT

+/- 10% WT

+/- 3% WT

Combo Tools - Shallow Internal Corrosion (SIC)

Sensitivity of SIC

Measurement

Combo Tools - Shallow Internal Corrosion (SIC)

RoCorr · MFL/SIC 24”

Combined MFL/SIC

Typical Applications:

-Heavy Wall Pipelines

-Baseline Surveys

Combo Tools - Top of Line Corrosion 16”

External

AUT

MFL SIC

Circum

fere

ntial

Circum

fere

ntial

Combo Tools - Focus Corrosion

High Resolution

MFL

shallow internal

corrosion

(SIC)

eXtended Resolution Geometry

UltrasonicMetal Loss Inspection

MFL

Combo Tools - Focus Corrosion

probability

of detection

accuracy

confidence level

wall thickness

general

wall thinning

length, width

probability of

identification

small pitting

pinholes

installations

• Debris or wax on the pipe wall can affect measurements

• deep external feature require minimum wall thickness

Missed CallsEcho Loss

Different Properties UT/MFL

Example - Probability of Detection

thickness

• pipe wall cleaning by MFL brushes

• redundancy by MFL signal

defect dimension

signal

dimension

Lamination

ultrasonic testing is sensitive to 2-dim.

interfaces

Identification of Features (UT/MFL)

Example - Probability of Identification

MFL signals are

proportional to

volume loss

Lamination with cavity,

56% loss of the pipewall

Combo Tools - Focus Cracks

High Resolution

MFL

shallow internal

corrosion

(SIC)

EMAT

Crack

Detection

eXtended Resolution Geometry

UltrasonicMetal Loss Inspection

MFL

Summary

• The combination of different inspection technologies enlarges the application range

• The combination of different inspection technologies improves the characterization and accuracy for features addressed by both technologies

Combined Inspection – Improved Performance

• MFL and UT are complementary in many aspects and therefore beneficial in combination

• The combination of Geometry Inspection with MFL and SIC is providing new inspection possibilities

• Both MFL/UT and MFL/SIC are well applicable for Baseline Inspections

Thank You

LEADING IN INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES