The new tools – which are developed by PII Pipeline Solutions, a GE Oil & Gas and Al Shaheen joint venture – are smaller, lighter and more flexible than ever before and deliver a higher level of data quality.

PII Pipeline Solutions General Manager Michael Bellamy said “GE data analysts and other industry experts alike are amazed at the tool’s high-resolution quality. It’s like a three-times zoom effect on pipeline defects compared with our previous industry-leading technology.”

Features

The new tool features a redesigned magnetiser that maintains constant contact with the pipe wall, and a powerful combination of sensors. Using the 6 inch tool as an example, the new design includes 216 low-noise Hall effect sensors with readings taken on axial, radial and transverse vectors every 2 mm. This new 3D configuration covers 100 per cent of the pipe circumference and optimises defect sizing accuracy for width, length and depth.

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MagneScan combines multiple inspections in a single run; the foundation magnetic flux leakage (MFL) inspection is complemented by a fully integrated high-resolution caliper and a geographic information system mapping unit as a standard option for improved data alignment. New MagneScan’s corrosion detection capability is now 5 per cent of wall thickness at 90 per cent probability of detection, while depth sizing accuracy is ±10 per cent at 90 per cent certainty at speeds up to 5 m per second.

The powerful new MagneScan is also more agile – the six inch tool is only 1.3 m long, lighter and easier to manage. The unit is designed to navigate and inspect tight bends and restrictions, including back-to-back bends with a 1.5 diameter radius. The tool is easier to launch and receive without the need for expensive pipeline modifications and requires fewer field technicians for deployment.

Pipe image

To complement the multi-mission hardware capability, GE has also developed software for flexible processing, analysis and reporting. Analysts and pipeline operators can now see all data sets aligned in the latest version of PII’s Client Viewing Software – PipeImage. Similarly, the new single-integrated report covers all data sets and includes any integrity engineering recommendations. This results in a faster reporting interval and facilitates more timely planning – the fully integrated inspection and integrity report can be delivered within eight weeks of the inspection run.

Proven capabilities

New MagneScan is building a strong track record with pipeline operators around the world, and many of its capabilities have already been proven, including minimum bore passing in client lines, successful inspection in thin-walled, low-pressure gas lines, and excellent durability with minimal sensor wear.

All data is captured at the highest resolution. Matching high quality with high quantity of data, MagneScan gives operators the flexibility to analyse certain defects for their immediate needs, and the option to request different analyses at any point in the future – the advantage being greater planning ability and responsiveness over time, without having to invest in additional inspection runs.

Continued improvement

PII Pipeline Solutions Product Line Leader Martin Bluck said “Data quality is as we had anticipated, and when contrasted with historical data, it clearly supports test results in terms of improved defect detection and resolution. Performance on pinholes and axial slots in particular (invisible to traditional MFL tools) has exceeded our expectations.”

The PII team is working in partnership with pipeline operators to further validate and improve published specifications for detection and sizing, with a particular focus on pinholes and axial features.

The company is performing more in-ditch dig verifications and tests on customer spools/cut-outs, and investing further in hardware and software algorithms to take the latest MagneScan system to its full potential. New MagneScan’s proven capabilities are continually expanding – with more tool sizes becoming available later this year.