Ultrasonic Metal Loss Inspection (UT)

Ultrasonic inspection technology has a long history of application in different industries and became known in the intelligent pigging market in the late eighties.

ONE OF THE FEW UT INSPECTION PROVIDERS IN THE WORLD

Ultrasonic In-Line Inspection is using an ultrasonic echo signal to measure the pipe wall thickness, detecting any variations from the nominal values.

In intelligent pigging applications, these high-frequency radial signals are emitted by UT transducers perpendicularly to a pipe wall. These signals produce two significant echoes – from the inner surface and the outer surface of a pipe wall. We detect the anomalies through the registered difference between periods of receiving the echo signals from a healthy pipe (nominal values) and pipe wall with metal loss or any inhomogeneity.

PIPECARE ultrasonic metal loss inspection tools work based on the direct measurement principle to ensure quantitative wall thickness measurements, superior detection, and sizing of metal loss anomalies, laminations, and inclusions.

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UT INSPECTION TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGES

We have equipped our inspection tools with arrays of UT transducers covering 360° of a pipe wall, and thus the measurement system not only measures the remaining pipe wall but also sizing the length and width of anomalies.

UT inspection technology ensures the perfect sizing accuracy and metal loss depth – better than any other technology. Also, besides sizing and detection of general metal loss anomalies, this is the only technology providing a reliable measurement of mid-wall laminations.

HIGH ACCURACY



MID-WALL FEATURE DETECTION (Lamination, Inclusions)




PIPECARE UT TOOLS SPECIFICATIONS


DescriptionValue
Tool Sizes2’’ to 56"
Pipeline productLiquids
Operating pressure range0 to 12 MPa
Operating temperature range-20 to +85° C
Wall thickness range4 to 32 mm
Tool velocity range0.2 to 2.0 m/sec
Min. pipeline bend radius1.5D
Min. passage bore80-85% of OD

DETECTION AND SIZING


DescriptionGeneral Metal LossPittingAxial GroovingCircumferential Grooving
Depth at POD1 mm1 mm1 mm1 mm
Depth sizing+/- 0.4 mm+/- 0.4 mm+/- 0.4 mm+/- 0.4 mm
Width sizing+/- 5 mm+/- 5 mm+/- 5 mm+/- 5 mm
Length sizing+/- 4 mm+/- 4 mm+/- 4 mm+/- 4 mm

LOCATION ACCURACY


DescriptionValue
Axial position from closest weld at 90% certainty+/- 0.15m
Accuracy of distance from pig trap valve at 90% certainty+/- 0.2%
Accuracy of circumferential position at 90% certainty+/- 10°