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René Irani Business Development Director, Pipeline Resources, Middle East & Africa The Added Value of In-Line Inspection to Hydrostatic Testing Programs
René Irani
Business Development Director,
Pipeline Resources, Middle East & Africa
The Added Value of In-Line Inspection
to Hydrostatic Testing Programs
www.QuestIntegrity.com2
The Complementary Benefits of Using Both:
Hydro-test and In-Line Inspection
A hydro-test is
effective for both
cracks and metal
loss and provides
positive proof of a
pipeline’s fitness.
An ILI program will gather
condition monitoring
information and if the ILI is
run ahead of the hydro-
test, critical flaws that
have been identified can
be repaired to avoid test
failures.
A combination of
the two is generally
more effective than
either on its own.
www.QuestIntegrity.com3
Pipeline System
Natural Gas System
• Spans 70,000 square miles and serves one out of every 20
Americans
– 6,700 Miles Transmission
– 42,000 Miles Distribution
• Serving four million people
• More than 21,000 men & women support the utilities
services
• If built in a straight line, the gas pipeline network would run
from California to Boston and back 15 times
By the Numbers
• Largest combined gas & electric company in the US with
70,000 miles of services area
• Area stretches from Malin, CA on the border of Oregon
down to Needles, CA on the border of Arizona
• Client delivers 970 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas per year
(2.6 BCF/day)
www.QuestIntegrity.com4
Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan
• In June 2011, the Californian
Government ordered intrastate gas
transmission operators to file an
Implementation Plan to pressure
test/replace all in-service natural
gas transmission pipelines that
have never been pressure tested.
Pipeline
Safety
Enhancement
Plan
• Client’s Strength Test program was set up in 2011 and was prioritized to address all
Class 3, Class 4, and HCA piping first. To date, the Strength Test Program has
tested approximately 650 miles of transmission pipeline.
www.QuestIntegrity.com5
A Look at Hydro-Test & In-Line Inspection Data
A hydro-test can show you this
But only ILI data can tell you this
www.QuestIntegrity.com6
Value for Money
In 2014 the Strength Test Program ran a pre-inspection ILI Tool
on 13 Tests totaling 32.5 miles.
The pre-inspection program increased costs
approximately 10% relative to the strength test alone.
www.QuestIntegrity.com7
2014 Program Challenges
Challenges:
• Dynamic Schedule (3 Day Window)
• Temporary Piping
• Unknown Pipeline Features
(Bends, Old Repairs, Fittings)
• Bi-Directional ILI Runs
• Low Pressures Lines (Tool Speed Issues)
• Miters Bends
• Dual Diameter
• Mueller / Pressure Control Fittings
• Acetylene Welds / Chill Rings
• Old 1920's Pipe
• Confined Work Areas
• Traffic Control / City Streets
www.QuestIntegrity.com8
2014 ILI Project Requirements
In-Line Inspection Tool - Quest UT InVista® (Unscrapable)
Single Run Inspection - Dual Diameter and/or Custom Tools
• Dents, Ovalities, Metal Loss, Bends, Take-Offs, Fittings, etc.
Project Management / Procedures
• Batching Services
• Monitor Cleaning
• Flow Rates & Pumping
AGM Establishment & Deployment
Tracking (Batching & InVista®)
XYZ Services (Centerline)
Reporting
• 48 Hour Report
• 48 Hour Quick XYZ Reporting
• 45 Day Final Report with XYZ
In-Field - Anomaly Locating
Digging Assistance
Launch & Receiver Barrels
• Valves & Hardware
www.QuestIntegrity.com9
Case Study #16-Inch / 8-Inch (Dual Diameter)
M.P. .002 – 4.84 (4.82 Miles) Orinda, CA
Dual Diameter
6” .280 wall
8” .237 wall
Line Fill 37,615 gal.
Challenges:
• Unknown Pipe Details
• Residential Area
• Elevation Changes
– 800 Feet Variations
• Dual Diameter
– Multiple Transitions
• Traffic Control
www.QuestIntegrity.com10
Case Study #16-Inch / 8-Inch (Dual Diameter)
ILI Results:
• 48 Hour preliminary report provided in the field
• After review of the report – high risk anomalies identified prior to Hydro-test
Locating Indications:
• High resolution GPS used
• Quest located dig areas and identified and marked
• Anomalies repaired or pipe replaced
www.QuestIntegrity.com11
Case Study #1EML 2960 at 7186 ft.
www.QuestIntegrity.com12
Case Study #1DNT 3000-2 at 7293 ft.: 13% Dent at a Field Bend
www.QuestIntegrity.com13
Case Study #210 Inch
M.P. 0.01 – 2.98 (2.97 Miles)
Napa, CA
10” .312 wall
Line Fill 64,442 gal.
Challenges:
• Earthquake
• Schedule Movement
– Permitting
– Access to Locations
• Environmentally Sensitive
• Hydro-test Procedure Issue
• Accessibility Issues
www.QuestIntegrity.com14
Case Study #210 Inch
Inspection Findings:
• 48 Hour preliminary report provided in the field
• After review of the report – no wall loss anomalies
needed to be repaired prior to Hydro-test.
Hydro-test Complication Issue:
• Suspicion of service taps leaking under pressure
• Quest dataset and GPS coordinates allowed for
quick location of taps for examination.
• Test procedural error discovered. Line was split,
tested successfully.
www.QuestIntegrity.com15
Case Study #310 Inch
M.P. 2.48 – 4.89 (2.41 miles)
San Rafael, CA
10” 0.220” & 0.250” wall
ILI Direction: On-site procedural changes
Batch Fill 35,498 gal.
Challenges:
• Late change to inspection procedure
due to MAOP concerns. Contemplated
waving ILI.
• Ran line in two sections to avoid
exceeding MAOP (175 psi max).
• Chill ring received with tool on first run.
www.QuestIntegrity.com16
Case Study #3Buckles with Metal Loss Indications Found
www.QuestIntegrity.com17
Case Study #3Small Diameter Pitting
www.QuestIntegrity.com18
Conclusion
1. For minimal additional cost, ILI added significant value to the
strength test program.
2. The strength testing program adds benefits for Pipelines with limited or
outdated records.
a) Updated alignment sheets and corrected segment
lengths
b) Nominal pipe wall thicknesses
c) Pinpointed historic repair locations
3. Assists in remediation and repair planning
a) Catholic Protection Effectiveness
b) MAOP Evaluation & Pressure Ratings Review
c) Pipeline coordinates, GIS information, and HCA
evaluations
4. Overall better decision making & outage time reductions
a) General Integrity Management planning & remediation
b) Budgeting
c) New construction
d) Statistical analysis
www.QuestIntegrity.com19
Pick Any Two
Good
Fast Cheap
Pick
any
Two
