Do you know the fitness for service state of your pipelines? With summer well underway and a constant flux of temperature changes and precipitation affecting the region, Alberta’s oil and gas pipelines are facing a prime environment for the development of soil-side corrosion at any break in the coating along with under-scale corrosion, CO-2 corrosion along with main other types inside the main.. Left undetected, these culprits can cause millions of dollars worth of damages with cracks, leaks, and other issues slowly developing until it becomes too late to stop an inevitable failure. At Russell NDE, our passion is to provide clients around the world with safe, reliable, and efficient methods of NDT inspection that help to eliminate such risks by giving you an accurate depiction of the state of your lines well in advance of any disasters. Below, we’ll highlight a few other ways you can spot early signs of damage to a line, as well as the value of regular inspections. Read on to learn more!
More Than Meets The Eye
Part of the challenge of identifying damage in pipelines is the fact that oftentimes, the vast majority of the line is buried or is not easily accessible for a quick visual inspection. This means that, in order to catch early signs that allow you the chance to repair before a failure takes place, regular inspection of both the external and internal components of the line are essential. During your inspection, you’ll want to watch for:
Indications of corrosion pitting
Corrosion starts at crevices (e.g next to the root or cap of a weld). It can be caused by a number of chemical or electrical stimuli, but all are detectable with Russell's in-line inspection Tool "SeeSnake" which is available for pipe sizes 3" to 24"
Damaged liners
We specialize in the inspection of lined pipelines. HDPE "Tight Liners", cement mortar, FRP and other non-metal liners are subject to permeability (some gases go right through the liner and gather in the annulus to create pressure and collapse the liner)
Small leaks, seen on the surface
Pipelines that develop corrosion pits will eventually leak. Most pipeline companies monitor their ROW's to look for small leaks to repair lines before they become large, expensive leaks.. Russell's SeeSnake technology can tell you if you have a developing corrosion pitting problem. We can also inspect pipelines that are considered un-piggable by other Tools. We also offer MFL tools for unlined pipelines in the size range 2" to 10"
Why Preventive Inspection Is Your Best Asset
Sometimes, even with regular maintenance and the use of inhibitors, pipelines will still develop corrosion losses in the pipe walls. Inspecting your lines in a regular, timely fashion will give you a substantial advantage when it comes to identifying risks before they have a chance to progress, saving you time, money, and protecting your team in the process.
Russell NDE Systems is proud to be a world leader in both NDT equipment manufacturing, as well as inspection. For more information on keeping your lines safe using non-destructive in-line testing, contact our team today.