Pipeline Integrity: The Use of Multiple Technology In-Line Inspection Tool

Abstract

An aging pipeline infrastructure and more prescriptive regulatory policies are increasing pipeline operators’ demands for technological innovation and efficiency. Conversely, operators are struggling to find ways of minimizing the rate of increasing maintenance budgets. Developing an operating inspection technology that offers innovation and efficiency, cost-savings and, more importantly, a higher level of pipeline integrity is the universal challenge facing the pipeline inspection companies. The utilization of a multiple technology approach to in-line inspection (ILI) provides many solutions to this challenge. The ILI tool discussed in this paper, Linalog® COMBO, provides the operator with several multiple technology configurations [1] to choose from, depending on the specific pipeline inspection requirements. Some important benefits realized from these combined technologies are: accurately merged data from different inspection technologies; improvements in the identification and sizing of anomalies; more accurate integration of data; faster identification of high-risk anomalies. Our multiple technology approach to ILI now has a substantial history of providing inspections to the pipeline industry. This paper shall explain several case study examples of how this technology provides cost-savings, efficient regulatory compliance, and more informed, risk-based decisions.