Monitoring Pipeline Wall Conditions
Capability
Pipers® are an easy to deploy, economic, and scalable solution to monitor pipeline wall condition. They collect repeatable data that allows operators to closely monitor changes in the condition of the pipeline wall. Changes can be caused by stress on the pipeline, deterioration of the pipeline wall, or tampering such as illegal hot taps – a persistent challenge for the oil and gas industry in many parts of the world. A hot tap is a significant modification to a pipeline that requires removing a portion of the pipe wall and installing metallic components on the pipeline’s exterior. These modifications change the magnetic state of the pipeline wall. Pipers® measure, identify and locate hot taps in a pipeline by comparing the magnetic flux data of an inspection to a previously established baseline.
Project details
Pan American Energy, the first private oil and gas producer in Argentina, wanted to confirm Pipers® would be an effective and economical solution for monitoring changes in the wall condition of their pipelines. As a test, they installed a hot tap at an undisclosed location along a nearly 3,000 meter steel pipeline and asked INGU to find it. The tests were carried out at the famous Golfo San Jorge Basin with the support of Pan American Energy personnel, and INGU´s partner in Argentina, Aconcagua Energía.
The pipeline was inspected ahead of the hot tap installation, then the hot tap was installed, after which a second inspection was performed. The hot tap was unambiguously identified and the client confirmed that the provided location was within the 6 meter acceptance criterion for the project.
Pipeline specifications
Pipeline Length | 2,962 meter |
Pipeline Diameter | 168.3 mm |
Pipeline Material | Steel API 5L gr B |
Content | Crude Oil |
Location | Argentina |