Bi-Directional High-Resolution Inspection of a Subsea Flexible Riser Pipeline

Equinor, a North Sea operatorAn entity or organization responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of a pipeline system. The operator is entrusted with ensuring the safe, rel…, required an inline inspectionA method used to assess the the integrity and condition of pipelines. It involves the use of specialized tools that are inserted into the pipeline and propelled… of a subsea pipeline used for transporting gas and gas condensate from a subsea template to a platform that was essential to the company’s ongoing operations. To assess the conditions of the critical parts of this asset, which had never been inspected, 720 m of 10" diameter flexible riser and end fittings needed to be examined.

The flexible riser starts at the platform and descends 322 m (1056 ft) to the seabed, where it connects via end fittings to a 6.5 km (4.04 mi) long, 10" diameter subsea pipeline and ends at a subsea template. Due to the system layout, a bi-directional inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… tool was required to complete the inspection.

To obtain reliable data about the condition of this pipeline section, the chosen inline inspection (ILI)A method used to assess the the integrity and condition of pipelines. It involves the use of specialized tools that are inserted into the pipeline and propelled… solution must be capable of performing a high-resolution measurement of the pitch between the carcasses throughout the length of the riser, and the critical end couplings, as well as the end fitting positions.

• NDT Global provided accurate inline inspectionA method used to assess the the integrity and condition of pipelines. It involves the use of specialized tools that are inserted into the pipeline and propelled… measurements of the distances between the individual increments of the flexible riser carcasses, indicating any potential areas of over-expansion or compression. The recorded inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… data was also used to evaluate the condition of the end fittings and decide what, if any, remediationThe appropriate actions taken to address or rectify issues, deficiencies, or anomalies identified in a pipeline system. It involves implementing corrective acti… was necessary. No damage was detected.

• NDT Global provided Equinor with a comprehensive, timely, post-inspection data analysisThe evaluation process of extracting insights, patterns, and valuable information from the data collected during pipeline operations, inspections, or monitoring… report. The report included an in-depth analysis of data collected from the ILI run, as well as an evaluationA comprehensive assessment of various factors related to the performance, condition, and integrity of a pipeline. It aims to determine the pipeline's fitness fo… of the pipeline condition with regards to the flexible riser carcasses and the end fittings. Proprietary algorithms for data analysis improved 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 confidence in the quality and accuracy of the data.

• The superior data accuracy of this inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… enabled Equinor to substantially reduce ongoing riskA measure of loss in terms of both the incident likelihood of occurrence and the magnitude of the consequences. and extend the life of their pipeline.