In-line inspection tools cannot inspect most of the natural gas transmission pipelines and distribution mains due to restrictions in the pipelines that will not allow a tool equipped with current inspection technologies to pass. Remote field eddy current (RFEC) inspection is an excellent candidate for inspecting a pipeline with multiple diameters, valve and bore restrictions and tight or miter bends. The results of this paper show that the RFEC technique can inspect pipeline materials, and that all of the components needed for RFEC inspection can be made much smaller that the pipe diameter. RFEC inspection is commercially available for inspecting small diameter piping without restrictions, several hundred feet at a time. The prototype design described in this paper shows this technology will work in a free-swimming tool that can inspect miles of pipeline at time and bypass restrictions.
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August 2005
Research Papers
Small Diameter Remote Field Eddy Current Inspection for Unpiggable Pipelines
Albert Teitsma,
Albert Teitsma
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
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Stephen Takach,
Stephen Takach
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
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Julie Maupin,
Julie Maupin
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
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Jennifer Fox,
Jennifer Fox
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
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Paul Shuttleworth,
Paul Shuttleworth
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
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Paul Seger
Paul Seger
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
Search for other works by this author on:
Albert Teitsma
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
Stephen Takach
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
Julie Maupin
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
Jennifer Fox
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
Paul Shuttleworth
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
Paul Seger
Distribution & Pipeline Technology Center,
Gas Technology Institute
, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804J. Pressure Vessel Technol. Aug 2005, 127(3): 269-273 (5 pages)
Published Online: February 22, 2005
Article history
Received:
February 10, 2005
Revised:
February 22, 2005
Citation
Teitsma, A., Takach, S., Maupin, J., Fox, J., Shuttleworth, P., and Seger, P. (February 22, 2005). "Small Diameter Remote Field Eddy Current Inspection for Unpiggable Pipelines." ASME. J. Pressure Vessel Technol. August 2005; 127(3): 269–273. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1991878
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