Unpiggable no more
27 Jun 2005
GE Energy’s pipeline services operation has successfully launched its first SmartScan tool, a flexible inspection system designed to help the oil and gas industry overcome a longtime obstacle: the in-line corrosion inspection of "unpiggable" pipelines.
A pipeline is deemed unpiggable if conventional, in-line inspection tools (smart pigs) are unable to inspect a given line due to valve restrictions, multiple pipeline diameters or too many sharp bends.
In-line inspections are a primary method for identifying corrosion defects that could eventually lead to costly pipeline releases. However, operators previously have been unable to perform these inspections on a third of the world's installed pipelines (or 700,000 kilometers) because the pipelines were not originally designed to accommodate the passage of in-line tools.
As a result, operators have been limited to using either less-quantitative techniques (approaches that cannot describe corrosion-size details) such as direct assessment or hydrotesting methods, or substantially more expensive pipeline modifications.
Not any more. GE's SmartScan's flexible structure allows it to navigate pipeline diameter variations of between 16-20, 20-26 and 24-30 inches, respectively. Future generations of SmartScan tools will be able to navigate additional larger and smaller diameter ranges.
Operators also have the option to launch and receive SmartScan without the need for conventional traps via the use of a "hot tap," an access hole that is drilled into pipeline walls without requiring an interruption of service.
SmartScan was a cooperative effort developed by GE's various global pipeline services teams: its mechanical design was developed in
