SUBSEA PIPELINE

INSPECTION AND REPAIR

BY
SACHIN SURESH PILLAI
R150216014
500050929
 INTRODUCTION
Pipeline inspection is a part of pipeline integrity management for keeping the pipeline in good
condition.
The pipeline safety regulations require that the operator to ensure that a pipeline is maintained in an
efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair.
The subsea pipeline internal inspection is normally carried out through nondestructive testing
techniques and technologies by intelligent pigs.
 INSPECTION TECHNIQUES

Several techniques are applied in metal loss intelligent pigs:

Magnetic flux leakage.
Ultrasonic.
High-frequency eddy current.
Remote field eddy current.
 MAGNETIC FLUX LEAKAGE
The magnetic flux leakage technique is based on magnetizing the pipe wall and sensing
the MFL of metal loss defects and other features.
From the MFL signal patterns, it is possible to identify and recognize metal loss defects.
MFL TOOL
 PRINCIPLE OF MFL
High-field MFL tools saturate the wall of pipe with magnetic flux until the wall of pipe
can no longer hold any more flux.
Structurally-sound steel has a uniform structure that allows regular flow of the magnetic
flux, while anomalies and features interrupt the flow of flux in identifiable patterns;
The sensor registers these flow interruptions and records them for later analysis.
 ULTRASONIC PIGS
Interpretation of ultrasonic signals is more straightforward than MFL signals.
The standoff and wall thickness signals give a direct mapping of the pipe wall, showing
all corrosion defects.
 PRINCIPLE OF ULTRASONIC PIGGING
Ultrasonic pigs induce ultrasonic waves into pipe wall.
The transducers emit sound pulses that are reflected at both the inner and outer surface
of the pipe wall. The time elapsed detection of these two echoes gives a direct measure
of the remaining wall thickness of the pipe.
Technicians can assess metal condition and detect anomalies based on the reflections of
these waves when the pig passes through the pipe.
 HIGH FREQUENCY EDDY CURRENT
High-frequency eddy current (HFEC) technology has been developed for monitoring
internal corrosion in heavy-walled, small-diameter pipelines.
The HFEC technique can measure only internal defects, no measurement is obtained
from external defects. The measurement is insensitive to the pipeline product and to
debris.
 PRINCIPLE OF HFEC
The principle of eddy current is based on the phenomenon that an alternating current in a
transmitter coil induces alternating currents, or eddy currents, in any nearby conductor
through inductive electromagnetic coupling.
Any defects that change the eddy current flow also change the impedance of the coils in the
probe. These changes in the impedance of the coils are measured and used to detect defects
in the tube.
 REMOTE FIELD EDDY CURRENT
Remote eddy field testing (RFT) is an electromagnetic method of non-destructive testing
whose main application is finding defects in steel pipes and tubes.
It is highly sensitive to wall thickness variations.
 PRINCIPLE OF RFEC
The probe consists of two coils in a send-receive configuration which are inserted into the
tube.
The energised exciter coil transmits a signal to the detector coil located some distance away.
This signal passes through to the outside tube wall returning to arrive at the detector coil.
With wall thinning there is less shielding hence the return time (greater phase) and attenuation
(greater amplitude) is shorter.
Phase and amplitude traces are generated as the probe is pulled through the tube as recorded
data identifies the metal loss.
 PIPELINE REPAR METHODS

PIPELINE REPAIR
METHODS

CONVENTIONAL
DEEPWATER
REPAIR
REPAIR
METHODS

INSTALLATION
SUBMERGED CATHODIC SPAN
CORROSION OF AN
WEIGHT PROTECTION RECTIFICATION
COATING REPAIR ENGINEERED
RECTIFICATION REPAIR PROCEDURES
BACKFILL

INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION INSTALLATION INSTALLATION OF
OF CONCRETE OF ENGINEERED OF SAND OR STABILIZATION
SLEEVES. BACKFILL. GROUT BAGS. MATTRESSES OR
SADDLES.
 CONVENTIONAL REPAIR METHODS

1.CORROSION COATING REPAIR

Repairs carried out on the corrosion coat of a subsea pipeline may be undertaken
under two environments, as follows:
Marine conditions, coating applied in seawater.
Hyperbaric conditions, coating applied in dry conditions inside a habitat.
The need for any major repairs at a particular site usually dictates the conditions in which
the coating repair is carried out. Repair to a subsea pipeline that involves only repairs to
the corrosion coating is unlikely.
2.SUBMERGED WEIGHT RECTIFICATION

1. Grouted concrete sleeve

2.Engineering backfill
3.Grout Bags and Sandbags

4. Stabilization Mattress
3. CATHODIC PROTECTION REPAIR

The cathodic protection facilities of the pipeline system may need to be repaired or
enhanced if the system performance is shown to be inadequate
This ineffectiveness may be due to the anodes being damaged or prematurely depleted as
a result of bad CP design or unexpected and severe corrosion coating breakdown.
Anode sledges are connected at specified intervals along the pipeline system and at a
minimum standoff distance from the line.
The electrical connection between the end of the anode sledge cable and the pipeline is
typically achieved by employing mechanical screws or by wet welding onto an in-situ
doubler plate from an original anode.
4. Pipeline Span Rectification
Within the pipeline systems design life, unacceptable free spans may develop due to a
number of factors, which include scouring action or the passage of sand waves.
It is usual practice, during the pipeline design phase, to calculate the permitted spans of the
system for all phases of installation and operation.
With the pipeline full of water, air, or gas, allowable spans are calculated for the both static
and dynamic conditions.
Accordingly, a worst case envelope can be developed, which may be used as a basis for
designating the allowable span criteria.

Typical Methods of Using Formwork for Grouting

 DEEPWATER PIPELINE REPAIR
The Smart Plug is a remotely controlled and operated (umbilical less) pipe-line isolation system
used for isolation of oil and gas pipelines in all dimensions. They are designed, manufactured, and
tested to withstand MAOP. This allows repairs, maintenance, and intervention to be carried out,
while maintaining pipeline pressure.
Therefore, power and control are provided from the vessel and are remotely operated. This means
that there is no limit as to where in the line the isolation pig can be used.
The plug modules, linked together by ball joints, have two primary functions:
Set and lock to the inner pipe wall via the threaded metal segments or slips.
Apply differential pressure sealing with the large-volume packer.
 CONCLUSION
Inspection and repair of pipelines is done regularly to assess its integrity and prolong its
working period. Longer period of pipelines reduces the necessity to lay new pipelines
which would cost more. Hence, this is an integral party of integrity management and cost
reduction.