| Another new introduction from GE's PII Pipeline Solutions business is an advanced Crack Ranking methodology that helps pipeline operators prioritise remediation programs, based on the severity of any cracks detected in a given pipeline. The new process is designed to fill a critical service need in the industry as an increasing number of cracks and crack colonies are being detected in pipelines around the world. Traditional, conservative methods only report on the maximum depth and overall length of cracks, without identifying which ones pose the greatest potential risk. Since repair decisions can be financially and logistically overwhelming for operators, the global oil and gas industry has been demanding a new, next-generation process that not only measures cracks but can also reliably discriminate defects based on their true likelihood of failure. "We regularly invest in technologies that help pipeline operators make more informed, cost-effective decisions when it comes to evaluating and planning potential repairs," says Manuel Terranova, General Manager - Integrity Services for PII Pipeline Solutions. "Our new service gives operators an accurate foundation on which to base their crack management and maintenance plans, thereby helping them effectively control repair costs while meeting regulatory mandates." The new methodology utilises fracture mechanics to provide an Estimated Severity Factor for every crack and crack field in a given pipeline, providing a criticality ranking for each crack. "Think RSTRENG for cracks," says Terranova. "We've developed a more sophisticated analysis technique that accurately prioritises individual cracks and SCC colonies." By combining UltraScan™ CD's long history of successful inline crack detection with new, advanced algorithms, PII produces higher-quality crack descriptions similar in detail to RSTRENG calculations of corrosion defects. PII's Crack Ranking process measures crack depth every 3 mm (118 mils) along the axial profile, enabling effective depth and length to be calculated. Its software algorithms, validated against in-ditch measurements, calculate detailed axial profiles for the crack-like defects identified during the inline inspection. The company's filtering techniques break through the signal noise associated with SCC colonies to discriminate between individual cracks and determine the level of interactivity present between them. Significant cracks within a colony are then mapped and interaction criteria are applied to identify the most likely failure path. Interaction and failure-pressure prediction criteria were adopted from actual detected SCC colonies subjected to NDE and burst testing. The new Crack Ranking service gives customers an accurate foundation on which to base crack management and maintenance plans. It is also an extremely practical solution - helping control repair costs while meeting regulatory compliance. More information: |
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