 The Wavemaker Pipe Screening System is designed for rapid screening of long lengths of pipe detect external or internal corrosion as well as axial and circumferential cracking. It can be used on a wide variety of pipes including those that are buried or insulated. A wide range of innovative features has been incorporated into the Wavemaker Pipe Screening System and a user-friendly interface ensures that it is easy to use. The test can be done while the plant is operating so disruption is minimised . Hundreds of metres of pipe can be inspected in a day and 100% of the pipe wall is inspected during the test. The Wavermaker Pipe Screening System is an efficient and effective method of screening.
The Wavemaker Pipe Screening System uses a new two-ring array of probes rather than three as used in earlier applications of this technology. This has proven to be highly effective in terms of its ability to detect the presence of corrosion but with reduced equipment capital cost. The probe arrays can be attached to the pipe in less than one minute.
Two types of guided waves (longitudinal and torsional) are used to broaden the range of possible frequencies and to adjust for different situations, for example the presence of liquids. Axi-symmetric and non-axi-symmetric waves aid in defect detection and interpretation of the results.
All aspects of the system, the electronics, software, probes and the clamping arrangements are designed and manufactured in-house.
Rapid full coverage screening of pipes by the Wavemaker Pipe Screening System makes it cost effective to inspect pipes in difficult to access locations. There are a number of potential applications of the Wavemaker Pipe Screening System with its ability to detect cracks and general metal loss (greater than 5% of the cross-sectional area). Some of these applications are:
- The detection and positioning of corrosion under insulated without removing lagging other than for the application of the probes
- Screening of inaccessible areas such as sleeved road crossings and wall penetrations
- Screening of on and offshore pipework, even in tightly packed racks.
- Riser inspection
Permanently Installed Monitoring System
PIMS is an innovative pipeline inspection and monitoring system that employs guided waves to screen for corrosion, circumferential cracking and general loss of cross sectional wall thickness.
The techniques inspects 100% of the pipe wall, with a range of dual directional, ultrasonic guided waves, which are equally sensitive to internal as well as external defects.
The system has many advantages over current pipeline inspection systems:
It's completely non-intrusive with no affect on production.
Large sections can be inspected from a single test location.
PIMS can inspect un-piggable or inaccessible sections of the pipeline.
Fixed units can be retrofitted to in-service pipelines.
Mobile units can be deployed quickly to high risk areas by WROV.
Analysis of data is in real time with a permanent record provided.
It provides cost savings by focusing complimentary inspections to anomalous locations.
What is PIMS:
- PIMS is a specially designed cost effective method of monitoring areas which are costly or difficult to access. The rings once fitted and tested are then encapsulated in a special resin to ensure continuing operation over the asset lifetime.
- The demand for PIMS has been industry driven and is now being installed in the field by GUL operators.
- PIMS are rings of transducers that have been developed to work with the Wavemaker TM G3 and produce the same result as the normal solid or inflatable type rings.
- PIMS can be installed on any pipe, but is particularly useful where future access will be difficult for example:
- Buried pipe
- Difficult to access pipe in ducts under roads/rail lines
- For subsea applications prior to installation
- Pipes that will be in contaminated areas
Why install PIMS:
- Eliminate future access cost
- PIMS is able to use the advanced software available for the Wavermaker TM G3 using the overlay facility greatly increasing sensitivity to change in cross sectional area as demonstrated below on new pipe. In these independently witnessed tests for a major US oil company changes in cross section in the order of 0.1% could be identified.
- Incorporate in new build so that pipe can be “fingerprinted” in “as new” state giving a perfect basis for monitoring change.
- Straightforward installation as all parts for each PIMS are supplied by GUL in kit form and GUL training course is mandatory for installers.
PIMS revolutionizes the international external screening of…
- subsea pipelines
- jumpers
- risers
- and manifold pipework…
delivering critical insight into internal conditions, facilitating focused complementary inspections, and enabling confident integrity management.
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The Guided Ultrasonics and Positive Material Identification technology is patented technology from Guided Ultrasonics UK (Ltd) and Subsea Integrity Group (SIG). More information available on request.
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