GAMMA RAY INSPECTION

PROCEDURE

CENA TECH

OF

WELDED JOINTS

CLIENT: OILSERV LIMITED

DOCUMENT NUMBER:
REVISIO

0
1
2
3

DESCRIPTION OF
MODIFI
CATION

PREPARE
D BY

FIRST ISSUE
AUDIT SCHEDULE

CHRIS

NDT/GRI/QAC - 040/CENA TECH

REVIEWED BY

APPROVED

DATE OF
IS
S
U
E

BY CLIENT REP.

CYRIL OBUSE

05/06/2014

CENA TECH

Distribution - Uncontrolled Copy

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
GAMMA RAY INSPECTION OF WELDED JOINTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.

PURPOSE

2.

SCOPE

3.

REFERENCES

4.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION

5.

SURFACE PREPARATION

6.

EQUIPMENT MATERIAL AND CONSUMABLES

7.

SAFETY

8.

CALIBRATION

9.

QUALITY OF RADIOGRAPH

10.

RADIOGRAPHIC DENSITY

11.

GEOMETRIC UNSHARPNESS

12.

IDENTIFICATION / LOCATION MARKERS ON RADIOGRAPHS

13.

IMAGE QUALITY INDICATOR (IQI)

14.

RADIOGRAPH TECHNIQUE

15.

EXPOSURE TIME CALCULATOR

16.

PROCESSING OF RADIOGRAPH

17.

VIEWING CONDITION

18.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

19.

PRESENTATION OF COMPLETED RADIOGRAPHS

20.

STORAGE OF PROCESSED RADIOGRAPHS

21.

REPORT

22.

DOCUMENTATION

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
1.

PURPOSE:
The purpose of the procedure is intended to provide OILSERV and
involved authorities with the information concerning methods,
techniques, equipment and personnel to be employed in carrying
out Radiographic Inspection by CENA TECH.

2.

SCOPE:
This procedure establishes the requirement of radiographic
examination of carbon and stainless steel Weld in Piping and
Structures whose wall thickness range from 3mm to 75mm.

3.

REFERENCES:
The latest revisions of the following standards and specifications
shall be used.
3.1.

SNT-TC-1A: Recommended practice for the qualification and

certification

of

Non-

destructive

testing

personnel,

Supplement A.
3.2.

NDT/PQC/QAC-020/CT: CENA TECH written practice for the

qualification and certification of CENA TECH Personnel.

3.3.

ASME SEC V: Boiler and Pressure vessel code - Nondestructive Examination.

3.4.

ASME E 94: Standard testing for radiographic testing

3.5.

MPN LPPG 03-11-06: Radiographic Work and Radiographic

Isotopes, Storage, Use and Control.

4.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION:
All personnel shall be qualified for level II (gamma radiography
without

interpretation).

Only

Level

III/Inspection

engineer

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
(RADIOGRAPHIC TESING PERSONNEL) shall interpret radiographs.
Qualification as per CENA TECH written practice, or equivalent as
approved by the Client
5.

SURFACE PREPARATION.
5.1.

The furnished surface of all butt- Welded joints may be with

base metal or may have uniform crown.

5.2.

Excessive weld ripples or welds irregularity on both the

inside (where accessible) and outside shall be removed by
suitable process to avoid any confusion in the resulting
radiograph.

6.

EQUIPMENT MATERIAL AND CONSUMABLES.

6.1

CONTAINER
AMERSHAM and/or NECSA made IR-192 Gamma ray source
container TECH/OPS 660 remote type with maximum Curie
of 80Ci or similar.

6.2

RADIOGRAPHIC FILM
Radiographic film shall be as described in ASME Section V:
Article 22: SE94, depending on application or as specified
in the contract or as per Client specification. If required by
project specifications or contract it shall be of roll-pack
type.
6.2.1. Type I shall be KODAK MX OR AGFA D4. Or similar
6.2.2. Type II shall be KODAK AX OR AGFA D7. Or similar

6.3.

INTENSIFYING SCREENS AND CASSETTES:

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
6.3.1. Only lead intensifying screen of 0.125mm in front
and 0.125 / 0.125mm in the back shall be used.
6.3.2. The cassettes shall be of Velcro type or double
envelope type.

7.

SAFETY.
All radiographic examination shall be carried out in accordance
with

CENA

TECH

Radiation

Safety

Manual,

Radiographic

Protection Program, and Radiation Control

Procedure and Local Rules for Site Radiography, and Oilserv
Safety requirements and National regulations
8.

CALIBRATION:
All equipment that requires calibration shall have valid current
calibration certification.

9.

QUALITY OF THE RADIOGRAPHS.

All radiographs shall be free from mechanical, chemical or other
blemishes to the extent that they do not mask or confuse the
image of the discontinuity in the area of interest of the object
being radiographed. Such blemishes include but not limited to
the following:

Fogging,

Process defects such as streaks, watermarks or chemical

strains,

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH

Scratches, finger marks, smudges or false indication due to

defective screens.

10.

RADIOGRAPHIC DENSITY
The film density through the area of the radiographic image shall
be 2 for single viewing and 2.6 for composite viewing of double
film, exposure with a maximum of 4 in either case.

Either a

calibrated densitometer or step wedge film comparison strip

shall be used to measure the density of the radiograph.
11.

GEOMETRIC UNSHARPNESS
The radiography technique used shall be such that the Geometric
un-sharpness shall not exceed the following,
Material

Thickness, Geometric

inches

un-

sharpness

(Ugh)

Maximum, in
<2
2 to 3

0.020
0.030

Geometric un-sharpness is given by the formula

Ug = F *t/ d
Where
Ug = geometric un-sharpness.
F = Size of Radiation source.
t

= Specimen thickness, when in contact with the film.

d=
12.

Source to object distance

IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION MARKERS ON RADIOGRAPH

GENERAL

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
A system of radiographic identification shall be used to produce a
permanent and traceable record or part number. The letter R
shall be placed to designate a radiograph of a repair area and
may include 1, -2, etc., for the number of repairs. Flash system
of identification may be used with clients approval according to
relevant procedure.
LOCATION MARKER
Location lead marker shall be in form of metric number tapes and
shall be maintained on the part during radiography and the
datum shall be marked on the part by crayons to assist in
marking of any defective area of the component or the
weldments.
13.

IMAGE QUALITY INDICATORS

Quality radiograph with the appropriate IQI is the only indication
of the proper radiographic inspection. Defective radiographs
neither shall nor be accepted.
13.1 TYPE:
13.1.1.

The image quality indicators shall be of wire type and

comply with BSEN 462-1:1994 unless otherwise specified.

The penetrameter dimension shall be appropriate to the
size of the welds and penetrameter shall radiographically
be the same material as the material being tested.
13.1.2.

The IQI shall be selected on the basis of thickness of

the weldment being tested, as set out below:

10 Wire Nos.10-16 for thickness range 5-20mm (0.2-0.75)
6 Wire Nos. 6-12 for thickness range 12.5-50mm (0.5-2.0)
1 Wire Nos. 1-7 for thickness range 40-160mm (1.6-6.3)

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
13 Wire Nos. 13-19 for thickness range 2.5-10mm (0.10.4)

Penetrameter wire diameter in mm

1 Wire Nos. 17 3.2

2.5

2.0

1.6

1.25 1.00 0.8

6 Wire Nos. 6121.00 0.8

0.63 0.5

10 Wire Nos. 1016

0.32 0.25 0.2

0.4

0.4

0.32 0.25
0.16 0.125

0.1
13.1.3.

For double wall exposure and double wall viewing the

diameter of the wires employed shall be based on the

nominal double wall thickness.
13.1.4

For double wall exposure and single wall viewing the

diameter of the wire shall be based on the single wall

thickness of the specimen
13.2 SENSITIVITY:
13.2.1.The radiography shall be performed with technique of
sufficient sensitivity to clearly display the penetrameter wire, the
sensitivity shall be at least 2%, unless or otherwise mentioned.

13.2.2

Sensitivity shall be calculated by formula:

13.2.3

% Sensitivity = Diameter of the thinnest wire visible /

thickness of the test piece including the reinforcement.

13.3 PLACEMENT OF THE PENETRAMETER.

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
13.3.3.

The penetrameter shall be on top of the weld, so that

the wires are 90 to the weld. Whenever possible the

penetrameter shall be placed on the source side unless if it is
impractical demonstrated for the required sensitivity, the
pentrameter may be placed on the film side and a lead letter
F shall be placed on the penetrameter.
13.4. NUMBER OF PENETRAMETER
13.4.1At least one penetrammeter shall be on each radiograph,
when one or more films are used for an exposure. When the
density is each expected to vary at the area of interest between
15% and +30% then an additional penetrameter shall be placed
at the film at the area of interest.
13.4.2 When one or more films are used in a single exposure with
the source at the center of the axis of the component, then 3
penetrameters spaced 120 degrees apart shall be used.
13.4.3 When four or more films are used for a single exposure of
a section of the circumference then three penetrameters shall be
placed, one in the mid of the section and the other two at each
end.
13.4 DIAGNOSTIC FILM LENGTH
The length of the component under examination at each
exposure shall be that the thickness of material penetrated at
the extremities of the readable area, measured in the
direction of the incident beam at that point, must generally
not be exceeded by more than 10% of the actual thickness
where the beam is aligned normal to the part, with the
exception of DWSI which depend on number of exposures.

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH

14.

RADIOGRAPHIC TECHNIQ1UE.
14.1 FILM INSIDE - SOURCE OUTSIDE (single wall/ single image :)
The source will be positioned so that the radiation beam is
directed to the center of the section under examination and
normal to the weld surface with a minimum of 1 overlaps for
multiple exposures.

14.2 FILM OUTSIDE SOURCE INSIDE (single wall/single image,

panoramic)
The sources will be positioned so that it coincides. with the
centre of the pipe and with the radiation beam normal to the
pipe surface. The minimum overlap of film is 1 for loaded
cassettes and 2 for roll pack film. The minimum diameter for
this technique shall be 10.
14.3. FILM OUTSIDE SOURCE OUTSIDE ( Double wall/single
image)
The source will be positioned so that the radiation beam passes
through the centre of the section under examination and will be
offset from the plane through the weld by the minimum distance
necessary to prevent the image of one side of the weld confusing
the image of

the other

side. The film

shall be placed

diametrically opposite the source with minimum number of the

three exposures at 120-deg displacement with an overlap of a
minimum of 1. Refer table 1 for diameter and thickness
limitation.

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
14.4. Double wall/double image (elliptical)
The source will be positioned so that the radiation beam passes
through the centre of the pipe in the plane of the weld with the
minimum (refer table 1) offset required to separate the top and
the bottom image. Two exposures are at 90-deg displacement.
The maximum diameter for this technique is 3.

14.5. Double wall/double image (super imposed)

The source is positioned in such a way that the image of both
walls is superimposed, a minimum of three exposures taken at
either 60 deg or 120 deg to each other. This technique shall be
applied for branch connections, weld lets and other weldments,
when elliptical technique is unsatisfactory.

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
Table 1
Number of exposures related to diameter and thickness of pipe
PIPE SIZE
WALL THICKNESS
1
and All

NUMBER OF EXPOSURES
2 elliptical exposures 90 apart at

smaller
2 to 2

minimum of 15 sfd
2 elliptical exposures 90 apart at

3 and 3

All
Schedule

80

minimum of 16 sfd
& 3 contact shots

below

Above 80 to 160
4 contact shots
XX strong
6 contact shots
Schedule
80
& 3 contact shots

below
Above 80 to 160
4 contact shots
XX strong
6 contact shots
Schedule 120 and 3 contact shots
below
Above

Schedule 4 contact shots

120
Schedule 120 and 3 contact shots

below
Schedule 140 and 4 contact shots
10 thru 24

Above 24

above
0.75 wall & below

3 contact shot or 1 panoramic

Above 0.75 wall

exposures
4 contact shot or 1 panoramic

All

exposures
4 contact shot or 1 panoramic
exposures

15.

EXPOSURE TIME CALCULATORS.

The exposure time shall be calculated for the given settings by
means of exposure charts or exposure scales.

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH

16.

PROCESSING OF RADIOGRAPHS:
16.1 Developing time 48 minutes at 20 degree centigrade with
constant agitation for the first one minute and intermittent
agitation there after.
16.2 After development the hanger are immersed in the stop
bath (acidic acid) for 30 seconds.
16.3 Fixing the film for 5 minutes or twice the developing time,
whichever is greater
16.4 After fixing, the film is to be washed for 15 minutes in clear
water, and for five minutes with water which is mixed with
wetting agent.
16.5 Drying shall be by either hanging for air drying or by
automatic dryer.

17.0 VIEWING CONDITIONS

Subdued lighting, rather than total darkness, is preferable in the
viewing room. The brightness of the surroundings should be
about the same as he area of interest of the radiograph. Room
illumination must be so arranged that there are no reflections
from the surface of the film under examination. The illuminator
shall be of variable intensity controlled with light diffusing glass.

18.0 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
Acceptance criteria shall be specified in the contract or in
OILSERV specifications.
19.0 PRESENTATION OF COMPLETED RADIOGRAPHS.
Completed radiographs shall be arranged in sequence for each
weld and enclosed with an identifying envelope stating the
radiograph number, weld number, project, pipe diameter, date
shot and any other information the client may require.

20.0 STORAGE OF THE PROCESSED RADIOGRAPH.

Processed radiographs and report shall be delivered to the client
at the end of each of days activity or shall be stored in
partitioned-wooden storage boxes with the films placed on edge.
The films shall be delivered to Oilserv representative at the end
of the project.
21.0 REPORTS.
The radiographic inspection report shall consist he following:
Contract number
Item number, weld number
Date of test
Radiographic procedure
Type of films / screens used.
Curie strength / size,
Development manual or automatic
Sensitivity obtained
Number of exposure
Accept / reject criteria STD

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH
Inspection results, findings
Name/signature of the interpreter/Inspection engineer

22.0 DOCUMENTATION:
Report format:

see

CENA

TECH

radiographic

examination

report sheet.

TECHNIQUE
SHEET

SINGLE WALL, SINGLE IMAGE. SOURCE

OUTSIDE, FILM INSIDE, MULTIPLE
EXPOSURES

Single wall single image (panoramic)

Source inside, film outside, single
exposure

SINGLE WALL, SINGLE IMAGE (PIPE & VESSELS)

SOURCE OUTSIDE, MULTIPLE EXPOSURE

Single wall single image

multiple
exposure source inside film
out side

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH

DOUBLE WALL SINGLE IMAGE, MULTIPLE EXPOSURE

SOURCE OUTSIDE FILM OUTSIDE
OPTICAL
SOURCE
POSITION

SOURCE

OFFSET

DOUBLE WALL DOUBLE IMAGE

(ELIPTICAL) TWO EXPOSURES 90 DEG
TO EACH OTHER

DOUBLE WALL DOUBLE IMAGE (SUPRIMPOSED

MINIMUM 3 EXPOSURES 60 DEG TO EACH OTHER

GAMMA RAY INSPECTION PROCEDURE

CENA TECH

10

10

Full penetration fillet weld