TD Williamson (TDW), a world leader in pipeline services and equipment has announced that it has developed and deployed a new proprietary inline inspection reporting software known as Interactive Report 2013.
Designed with inline inspection (ILI) services customers in mind, Interactive Report 2013 is a data visualisation tool that makes it easy for users to filter and view their pipeline inspection data, with the goal of helping them to more intuitively assess where problem areas exist.
“This software makes inspection data more accessible than ever before,” says Ron Lundstrom, supervisor of software engineering for TDW. “It features a very user friendly Windows-based environment that makes it easy to choose from a variety of views, including interactive charts, graphs, tables and even a three-dimensional pipe view,” he adds.
A special “snapshot” feature enables users to save customised views of potential trouble spots and share them with others for review or comment. Once the most critical anomalies have been identified, creating a dig sheet is an automated process.
No extensive knowledge or training is required to use Interactive Report 2013, which will be included with delivery of all TDW inline inspection reports. “One of the cornerstones of the TDW approach is customer commitment,” says Eric Rogers, vice president of global pipeline integrity for TDW. “This new software is a perfect example of how committed we are to helping our customers understand and optimise their assets,” he adds.
UNIQUE APPROACH TO EMAT
Earlier, it announced that it has completed its first inline inspection using a unique new approach to Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (Emat) technology.
The Emat inspection took place in late September on 33 miles of a 12-inch diameter pipeline in Texas. The project was successfully executed, and the data is currently in analysis, says the company.
“Leveraging our patent-pending SpirAll magnetic flux leakage technology, and know-how from our sensor partner, TDW has developed a unique approach to Emat technology,” says Rogers. “Emat is designed to detect cracking features such as stress corrosion cracking. The TDW approach requires minimal transmitters and receivers, and is compact in design,” he adds.
TDW conducted hundreds of pull tests at its Global Pipeline Integrity Centre in Salt Lake City, UT, to validate the approach. Multiple passes through its test loop in Tulsa, OK, confirmed the technology was field ready.
24-INCH MULTIPLE DATASET TOOL
The company has also added a new 24-inch diameter inline inspection tool to its existing fleet of Multiple DataSet (MDS) tools. MDS technology allows geometry, metal loss, seam assessment, mechanical damage prioritisation, bending strain, and more, all in a single inspection.
The new 24-inch tool – which includes deformation (DEF), axial Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL), SpirALL MFL (SMFL), Low Field MFL (LFM), and XYZ Mapping – features more than 1,000 sensors but is less than 14 ft (4.27 m) long.
“Multiple runs have been executed with this particular tool since its inaugural run in July,” says Rogers. “The tool has performed as expected in every instance, and our customers are particularly excited that this much-requested tool diameter is now part of our MDS fleet,” he adds.
In August, TDW used the 24-inch MDS tool to conduct a 304-mile crude oil inspection for Koch Pipeline, LP. This inspection will be used to assess the long seams, pipe body, mechanical damage and any other anomalies capable of being detected and sized within the numerous datasets.
The launch of Interactive Report 2013, the new Emat technology and the 24-inch MDS tool continues a TDW tradition of introducing ground-breaking inline inspection tools and technologies to help pipeline operators improve pipeline integrity. SMFL technology was introduced in 2009, followed shortly by the first Multiple DataSet (MDS) platform, which allows multiple data streams to be collected during a single inspection. This technology allows geometry, metal loss, seam assessment, mechanical damage prioritisation, bending strain, and more, all in a single inspection.
Founded in 1920, TDW delivers safe integrity solutions for onshore and offshore applications. Experts provide hot tapping and Stopple plugging, pipeline cleaning, integrity inspection, pigging and non-tethered plugging, and pig technology services for any pressurised pipeline system in the world.
INLINE INSPECTION
The global provider of pipeline services and equipment has also successfully completed the inline inspection (ILI) of a key North Sea pipeline on behalf of Perenco UK. The operation was carried out on the 24-inch line that links the trent platform with the Bacton terminal pipeline. TDW conducted this intelligent inspection and associated pipeline service operation as part of Perenco’s strategic programme to ensure the integrity of its pipelines and assets.
ALL SERVICES UNDER ONE ROOF
The pipeline inspection was carried out to comply with Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) obligations. Perenco selected TDW because of its ability to offer state-of-the-art inspection services, along with the full project management package, which included planning, preparation, and risk assessment.
“We are a solutions provider,” says Dean Ellis, senior ILI Field Technician for TDW. “Our ability to offer the full range of services that Perenco required meant that we could create a custom solution, and carry out the kind of efficient and seamless operation that is only possible when all services are concentrated under one roof,” he adds.
“We are very pleased with TDW’s ability to successfully deliver the total project, despite the challenges imposed upon them,” says Stephen Southgate, Integrity & Fabric Maintenance Superintendent for Perenco UK.
