Ultrasonic Inline Inspection for Ethanol Pipelines

A major pipeline operatorAn entity or organization responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of a pipeline system. The operator is entrusted with ensuring the safe, rel… and client of NDT Global required support and advice to safely complete an ultrasonic inline crack and metal loss inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… on their 10”, 1.25 mile (2 km) feeder pipeline running 100% liquid ethanol. Although an untested medium for an ultrasonic inspection, the customer was determined to find a way to replicate the high-resolution and accurate pipeline inspection they achieve in all other lines using NDT Global’s ultrasonic technologySystems used in non-destructive testing that utilize sound waves to detect, identify, and measure anomalies within a pipeline integrity test or management progr…. By its nature, liquid ethanol is considered to be a volatile product when compared to crude oil or refined products such as diesel. To fully understand inspection parameters, the liquid ethanol was sampled and tested, identifying properties and initiating a review of viable inspection options. Following previous successful inspections in other mediums such as propane and butane, NDT Global’s engineering team determined that without tool customization, the unique properties of ethanol would not be viable to complete an ultrasonic crackA fracture or discontinuity in the wall of a pipeline, where the material is separated or broken, potentially compromising the integrity and safety of the pipel… inspection. When used in liquid ethanol, the typical arrangement of tool sensors cannot achieve the required angle of incidenceThe angle of incidence is the angle between an incident ray of light (or any other wave) and the normal, which is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface… to accurately inspect the line. 

Customized solution: Following the successful metal lossRefers to the reduction in material thickness or cross-sectional area of a pipe due to corrosion, erosion, or other forms of degradation. inspections, 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… completed crackA fracture or discontinuity in the wall of a pipeline, where the material is separated or broken, potentially compromising the integrity and safety of the pipel… assessments in this line. To date, three successful crack and two metal loss inspections have been performed in the ethanol environmentSurroundings or conditions (physical, chemical, mechanical) in which a material exists. The environment plays a significant role in pipeline design, constructio…. These inspections enhanced the client’s integrityThe capability of a pipeline to perform its intended function safely and reliably throughout its life. It includes a range of factors, including the structural … program.

Regular inspections possible: The client now includes these feeder lines in their overall integrityThe capability of a pipeline to perform its intended function safely and reliably throughout its life. It includes a range of factors, including the structural … program. The inspections have achieved leading industry detection, sizing and performance specifications.

Trusted ILI partnership: Addressing this unique situation with determination until a solution was reached, enabled 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… to achieve the same high standard of ILI in their ethanol lines as they do in their other lines. With NDT Global the operator is confident that their inspectionThe systematic process of visually examining, testing, or monitoring pipeline components to assess their condition, integrity, and compliance with regulatory re… is leveraged to improve pipeline integrityThe capability of a pipeline to perform its intended function safely and reliably throughout its life. It includes a range of factors, including the structural …, save operational costs, extend pipeline life, and most importantly, preserve the environmentSurroundings or conditions (physical, chemical, mechanical) in which a material exists. The environment plays a significant role in pipeline design, constructio… and surrounding communities.