Over the past 18 months ROSEN Australia has inspected just over 3,000 km of oil and gas pipelines in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia utilising its geometry, corrosion detection, axial flaw and gyro (XYZ) technologies. From its headquarters in Perth, which houses full maintenance, operational and data evaluation capabilities and expertise, as well as a branch office in Melbourne which houses similar facilities, ROSEN were able to provide all its clients with the tools and support required to ensure that each project was planned and executed with the minimum of fuss.

Dedicated project managers and field technicians were assigned to each client to ensure continuity of relationship and increased infield knowledge, resulting in staff who were well known and trusted by the client, trained and competent in specific client site safety requirements and who had a true understanding of the terrain and most importantly the pipeline they were there to inspect.

Because they are locally based, ROSEN Australia were also able to provide clients with the opportunity to visit either the Perth or Melbourne facility and review the tools before they left for site, review data together with the data evaluators or receive training or attend seminars on subjects such as tool technologies, software updates and presentation of final reports.

As well as these significant achievements, ROSEN has also been busily expanding tool ranges and developing new technology. Some of these completed and ongoing projects include:

Pipeline Data Logger (PDL) – Easily installed in all ROSEN manufactured cleaning pigs, the PDL can determine and store operational pipeline data during any cleaning run. This will enable detailed information regarding temperature and pressure within the pipeline to be obtained before the actual inspections have even begun. The information gathered can be used for a variety of purposes. In particular, when dealing with critical lines, PDL can clarify in the early stages of the inspection program whether standard tools can manage the inspection or whether further measures are required. In recent weeks the PDL has been utilised on a pipeline in Australia, with accurate results, leading to a much more detailed operational understanding of the pipeline.

4 inch Electronic Geometry Pig (EGP) – Testing has been completed for the new 4 inch EGP that will see the tool be added to the fleet of 6 – 64 inch EGPs currently available to the market.

EMAT Crack Detection Tool – A high resolution in-line inspection technology, based on a novel concept of an EMAT, allowing for the detection of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and detection of disbonded coating has been developed and is in the process of testing. The tool will become known in the industry as the ECD (EMAT Crack Detection Tool). The ECD will utilise multiple measurement methods enabling the discrimination of SCC and manufacturing flaws, but without the need for liquid coupling, as an acoustic wave is generated inside the pipe-wall, an important aspect when inspecting gas pipelines.

Guided wave acoustics are used for crack and SCC acquisition. The selected shear wave is operated at a low UT frequency without compromising crack acquisition capabilities. The advantage is a lift-off tolerant performance and reduced sensitivity to mid-wall and mill features. The ECD sensors are sensitive in the clockwise and counter clockwise direction of the pipe perimeter. This examines inclined cracks from two different sides.

8 – 12 inch Robotic Pipe Scanners (RPS) – Testing has recently been completed for the 8, 10 and 12 inch RPS. These tools will complement the 6 inch tools already available to the market. The RPS is designed for 360 degree full coverage inspection of above ground carbon steel pipelines which cannot be inspected with intelligent pigs, such as product lines or flow lines around refineries.

Robotic Survey System (RSS) – The ROSEN Research & Technology Center (RTRC) has also developed a further solution to inspect previously considered ‘unpiggable’ underground or subsea pipelines. Available for diameters of 4 inches and above, the RSS includes features such as an autonomous self propelled robotic survey system, intelligent on-board mission control, on-board navigation system, on-board power generation, and also utilises high resolution magnetic flux leakage capability. These features allow for the RSS to operate without the need of a medium to drive it.

Additional advantages of the scanner include single entry and exit point, multi diameter capability, tight bend passing capability, extremely high driving force, enabling vertical climb, and passage of pipeline installations and fittings (Y’s, T’s etc.) Currently the RTRC Tower is being constructed to enable rigorous testing of all RSS components.

eXtended Geometry Pig (XGP) – The RTRC has recently completed the final testing and commissioning of the new XGP. The 12 inch CDX (a combined CDP and XGP) has already been successfully run through a pipeline in Canada with excellent results. The XGP utilises high resolution sensors to better detect, localise and identify features such as ID changes, ovalities and dents. All XGP tools have a XYZ GPS inertial measurement unit on-board as standard. The new tool has the capability of being run in conjunction with the current Corrosion Detection Pig, which will be known as the CDX.

These successes, both contractual and technical, can be attributed to one of ROSEN’s basic philosophies – to supply from the market, to the market. Information is sourced from the market so that solutions can be returned to the market for clients. ROSEN prides itself in providing technology that complements the pipeline rather than the pipeline complementing the tool. ROSEN Australia looks forward to working with all of their clients, both old and new throughout the rest of 2005 and beyond.