In-line Inspection (ILI)
In-line Inspection (ILI) involves the evaluation of pipes and pipelines using “smart pigs” (both tethered and non-tethered) that utilize non-destructive examination techniques to detect and size internal damage. ILI measures and records irregularities in pipelines including corrosion, cracks, deformations, or other defects.
ILI is a common practice throughout the oil and gas industry and has proven invaluable for examining extensive pipelines. It makes inspecting the condition of long stretches of pipelines, a task that used to be incredibly expensive and time consuming, far more easy and economical.
There are several different types of smart pigs utilized in ILI activities, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some are more effective at detecting certain types of corrosion or damage in different types of pipes, depending on their NDE capabilities. More recently though, some manufacturers are combining the various functions of these separate tools into one. This way a single tool can now be used to detect several different types of damage, making it more efficient and effective.
Related Topics
Hydrostatic Testing Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Visual InspectionSTAY INFORMED WITH RELEVANT INDUSTRY CONTENT
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March/April 2017 Inspectioneering JournalBy Matt Ellinger at DNV GL
The purpose of this article is to describe the various in-line inspection (ILI) technologies that are currently available to the market. The pros, cons, and applicability of each type of tool will be discussed in greater detail.
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May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Ian D. Smith, P.Eng. at Quest Integrity Group, and Michael McGee at Quest Integrity Group
For traditional in-line inspection (ILI) vendors, considering 21.4 miles of a piggable 4” diesel pipeline is typically not a big deal. However, significant threats like 3rd party damage and external corrosion seem to come with the territory in nearly any pipeline territory.
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May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Rhett Dotson, P.E. at Stress Engineering Services
Historically, regulations regarding dent severity have been governed by one of two metrics: dent depth or strain. In the case of the former, plain dents with a depth up to 6% of the nominal diameter are permitted in both gas and liquid pipelines. However, many operators typically set stricter limits on dent depth targeting those above a depth of 2% for evaluation.
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May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Vibha Zaman, P.E. at Asset Optimization Consultants, and Peter Dsouza at Lloyd’s Register Energy Americas
Direct assessment is often seen as the best option to verify pipeline integrity. But, it's particularly challenging due to the difficulty of pipeline access, as well as the limitations in available technology to perform subsea wall thickness inspections. Addressing these challenges requires action rather than reaction.
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BlogFebruary 2, 2015 By John Reynolds at Intertek
The development of advanced NDE techniques/tools is one of the reasons the inspection trade has taken significant steps forward in the last couple decades; and the advancements appear to be accelerating. One of the many ways to keep up with advancing NDE technology is to attend the semi-annual NDE task group meetings at the Spring and Fall API Refining and Equipment Standards Meetings. In fact, that T/G is planning to document many of the advanced NDE...
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Sponsored Video Published on June 14, 2017Effective pipeline integrity management has been problematic for a large number of pipelines that were not designed for in-line inspection. Quest Integrity understands the complexities involved with this challenging segment and offers a comprehensive pipeline integrity management solution.
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Sponsored Video Published on May 15, 2017InVista Subsea, an advanced ultrasonic ILI tool from Quest Integrity, provides a solution for challenging and difficult-to-inspect subsea pipelines.
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NewsJune 15, 2017
"Unpiggable" pipelines are a thing of the past. With Quest Integrity's suite of in-line inspection tools, you can be confident in the state of your pipeline, no matter what.
