When a standard MFLA type of non-destructive evaluation used on inline inspection (ILI) technology in which a magnetic field is induced in the pipe wall to detect, classify, and c… inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… raised unexpected corrosionThe deterioration or degradation of a pipeline caused by chemical or electrochemical reactions with its environment. Corrosion is a significant concern as it ca… concerns in a 13-year-old offshore gas pipeline, the operatorAn entity or organization responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of a pipeline system. The operator is entrusted with ensuring the safe, rel… turned to NDT Global for clarity. The inspection had identified small internal features that didn’t match corrosion modeling, creating uncertainty and riskA measure of loss in terms of both the incident likelihood of occurrence and the magnitude of the consequences.. What they needed was higher resolution without the downtime and risk of liquid batching.
The Challenge
Achieving detection of 10 mm features in a gas pipeline isn’t easy. Ultrasonic tools could offer that precision, but only in a liquid-filled line, not a viable option offshore. The operatorAn entity or organization responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of a pipeline system. The operator is entrusted with ensuring the safe, rel…’s challenge to NDT Global was clear:
Improve featureGeneral term for an anomaly detected during an assessment. Features can be anomalies, components, nearby metallic objects, welds, appurtenances, or some other i… resolution significantly
Keep the inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… gas-compatible
Deliver a solution within a short timeline
The Breakthrough Idea
During a jointA single section (also pipe spool) of pipe that is circumferentially welded to form a pipeline. workshop, a client engineer asked a simple but powerful question: “Why not just put two modules together?”
That suggestion led to a breakthrough. By combining two Acoustic Resonance Technology (ART)An inspection technology that utilizes sound waves or acoustic signals to detect, monitor, and analyze the condition of pipelines. ART involves the application … modules in an offset configuration, NDT Global doubled sensor density and resolution. The modules were synchronized to act as a single system, giving the accuracy of UTSystems used in non-destructive testing that utilize sound waves to detect, identify, and measure anomalies within a pipeline integrity test or management progr… sizing without the need for liquid coupling.
From Concept to Validation
The engineering team developed a dual-module system, integrating mechanical modifications, signal synchronization, and robust data handling. To ensure this worked, the operatorAn entity or organization responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of a pipeline system. The operator is entrusted with ensuring the safe, rel… provided a blind test spool containing artificial defects as small as 12 mm.
The result: the new toolGeneric term signifying any type of instrumented tool or pig. detected and sized every featureGeneral term for an anomaly detected during an assessment. Features can be anomalies, components, nearby metallic objects, welds, appurtenances, or some other i… within client toleranceThe accuracy with which an anomaly dimension or characteristic is reported with a specified certainty., confirming its capability.
Impact in the Field
When deployed offshore, the toolGeneric term signifying any type of instrumented tool or pig. delivered results that exceeded expectations:
Resolution doubled — detection thresholdA characteristic dimension or dimensions of an anomaly that must be exceeded to achieve a stated probability of detection. improved from 24 mm to 12 mm
Minimal downtime — inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… completed in just 36 hours, no batching required
Data confidence — produced a high-fidelity wall thickness map
Strategic clarity — enabled faster, more confident decisions on asset integrityThe capability of a pipeline to perform its intended function safely and reliably throughout its life. It includes a range of factors, including the structural …
A Scalable Solution
What began as a project-specific challenge quickly became a milestone in pipeline inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… technology. The dual-module design wasn’t a one-off fix - it’s a scalable approach that can be adapted to future inspections where higher resolution in gas pipelines is required.
The takeaway: Innovation doesn’t always mean reinventing technology. Sometimes it’s about combining proven solutions in new ways. Through collaboration and focused engineering, NDT Global delivered a solution that sets a new benchmark for precision under pressure.
