Managing structural integrity of pipelines utilising inline inspection data

Abstract

Pipeline structural integrity challenges highlight the need for pipeline operators to prioritise inline inspection technologies as part of risk-based condition assessment. This initiative is motivated by increased regulatory and economic constraints associated with the worldwide ageing pipeline infrastructure. Inline inspection technologies are now extensively used to detect and inspect various anomalies and prevent unintended catastrophic pipeline failures. This paper outlines the importance of inline inspection technologies to collect data for structural integrity analysis. It also considers inline inspection technology selection, including performance and deterministic methods to interpret the inline inspection data. The deterministic methods assist in determining the remaining strength and useful life.