Deepwater, High‐Pressure and Multidiameter Pipelines—A Challenging in‐Line Inspection Project

In-line corrosion inspections with magnetic flux leakage (MFL) or ultrasonic technology (UT) have become standard in pipeline integrity assessment worldwide. Lately, ultra-high resolution geometry inspection based on eddy current (EC) methods has been established to assess more accurately the internal geometry of pipelines. This chapter presents the development of a series of 14in./18 in. In-line inspection (ILI) tools and their successful application survey in a 101.8 mi long, high-pressure, heavy-wall offshore pipeline. The main challenges for the tool designs were the wide multi-diameter working range from about 11.81–16.33 in. the high pressure (4200 psi) and the wye-piece passage. Because of the particular properties of the pipeline (high pressure, multi-diameter 14 in./18 in. high wall thicknesses and subsea installations) and the high risk of the deepwater operation, a unique development project was necessary.