Mastering Pipeline Inspection Data:
Understanding how ILI Data Quality influences Effective Defect Assessment
Instructors: Dr. Michael Beller and Dr. Konrad Reber
March 1-4, 2022 | Online

 

Agenda

Block 1: Why is Pipeline Inspection Data and its Quality important?

Session 1: Introduction to the Course: Do we understand the asset? Presented by Michael

• Introduction to the course and overview
• Pipeline Basics
• Flow and Availability
• The Integrity Drivers
• The Integrity Loop
• Data-Information-Decision Making
• Onshore versus Offshore
• Upstream, Midstream and Downstream
• The Pipe and its “defense layers”
• Understanding the “Pipeline Life-Cycle”
• Pipeline Threats
• Internal versus external inspection

Session 2: Protection of pipelines: How can we protect? Presented by Konrad

• Why the pipe needs protection
• What is corrosion?
• What methods for the protection of pipelines exist other than inspection and repair
• The Pipeline and its “defense layers”
• Coating
• Checking Cathodic Protection
• Surveillance

Session 3: Integrity Assessment: Is the pipeline still safe? Presented by Michael

• A short introduction into Defect Assessment
• The concept of ECA: Engineering Critical Assessment
• Input parameters needed for defect assessment (Material, Stress, Geometry)
• Defect geometries and their impact on local stress distribution
• Understanding the role of material characteristics
• The potential issue with older pipelines

Block 2: What type of Integrity Data is there?

Session 4: Pipeline Material Properties: What are they made of? Presented by Konrad

• Typical Pipeline Materials
• Seamless, long seam welded, spirally welded pipe
• Understanding the role of material characteristics
• Special pipe materials

Session 5: Stresses in Pipelines: What loading do pipelines experience? Presented by Michael

• Loading and mechanical stresses
• Typical loads acting on pipelines
• Global versus local loading
• Defect geometries and their impact on local stress distribution

Session 6: Defects and their Geometries: Why is the shape important? Presented by Michael

• Ideally round pipe
• Typical welds and their geometries
• Typical Defects in Pipelines and their shapes
• Manufacturing related versus Operational Defects or when do defects occur?
• Defect Classes: Geometric, Metal Loss and Cracks
• Typical Defect Geometries

Block 3: How can we collect Inspection Data?

Session 7: Non-destructive Testing: What kind of data is required? Presented by Konrad

• The role of non-destructive testing
• Detecting, sizing, locating
• Looking beyond the defect
• Understanding Thresholds
• Understanding accuracies
• The three dimensions of resolution
• Understanding Confidence Levels
• Issues regarding interacting and coincident defects

Session 8: How does Electromagnetic inspection perform? Presented by Konrad

• Magnetic Flux Leakage – the principle
• Levels of Magnetization
• The question of orientation
• MFL – the defect spec view
• Factors affecting data quality
• Special issues regarding coincident defects
• Special issues regarding repeat inspections
• Material Characteristics and Pipe grading
• Other electromagnetic methods (Eddy Current)

Session 9: How does UT inspection perform? Presented by Konrad

• Ultrasound – the principle
• Impedance and material properties
• The different ways to create the Ultrasound
• UT – the defect spec view
• Factors affecting data quality
• Special issues regarding coincident defects
• Special issues regarding repeat inspections
• Inspecting the Coating
• Material Characteristics and Pipe grading

Session 10: Other Technologies: What is still missing? Presented by Konrad

• Optical Methods
• X-Ray Tomography
• Mechanical

Session 11: How tool hardware influence data quality? Presented by Michael

• Automated Systems
  Explaining difference between manual and automated inspection
• In-line inspection tools
  Very short overview of available ILI tools
• Mechatronical Systems
  Concept of sensor technology with defect spec perspective and operational perspective, propulsion
• Factors affecting data quality
• Special issues regarding coincident defects
• Special issues regarding repeat inspections

Block 4: Bringing it all together – Mastering Pipeline Inspection Data

Session 12: Bringing it all together: how can we get a holistic picture? Presented by Michael

• Multiple Data Sets
• Inspecting the pipe wall
• Inspecting the Coating
• Checking Cathodic Protection
• Material Characteristics and Pipe grading
• Assessing global and local stresses and strains
• Combination of data sets
• What to gain
• The role of the service provider
• Data collection over time or at once?

Session 13: Sample Inspection Cases. Presented jointly by Konrad and Michael

• Welds and defects at welds
• Dents with other defects
• Multiple Corrosion defects

Case Examples will be presented and discussed with the delegates.