Title : Assessment of underground pipeline integrity using non-contact magnetometric technology: A case study of TL-2 crude pipeline inspection
Abstract:
Several company pipelines have been constructed as unpiggable flowlines, making in-line inspection unfeasible. This limitation hampers the ability to maintain reliable records of pipeline condition, particularly regarding corrosion resulting from the aggressive nature of the transported crude. A major concern lies with the crude oil pipeline (TL-2) connected to the Gathering Center, where no corrosion monitoring systems are currently in place to safeguard pipeline integrity.
To overcome this challenge, Non-contact Magnetometric Diagnostic Technology (NCM) has been adopted as an effective alternative. NCM enables a comprehensive evaluation of both internal and external pipeline conditions without requiring physical access or service disruption.
A recent inspection of the TL-2 using the NCM system covered a 1.4 km section to identify and classify structural anomalies. The survey detected 24 anomalies, categorized according to the Magnetic Anomaly Index (M). Critical and supercritical defects were subsequently validated through non-destructive testing (NDT), confirming the presence of corrosion and mechanical damage. Comparison of site inspection results with pilot survey findings showed that 4 out of 6 locations met the success criteria outlined in the contract.
Keywords: Pipeline Integrity Management, Non-Contact Magnetometric (NCM) , Unpiggable pipelines, Magnetic Anomaly Index (M), non-destructive testing (NDT).
