PII Pipeline Solutions Global Offices Case Histories

Headquarters Central Europe and CIS South America Application stories from the field
Atley Way, Cramlington, Lorenzstrasse 10 Dr. Mariano Moreno 4476
Northumberland NE23 1WW D-76297 Stutensee-Blankenloch B1605 BOF - Munro
United Kingdom Germany Vincente López – Buenos Aires
Tel: +44 191 247 3200 Tel: +49-7244-732-0 Argentina
Fax: +44 191 247 3101 Fax: +49-7244-732-149 Tel: 5411-4721-4700
Fax: 5411-4721-4701
Western Europe and Africa Middle East
Atley Way, Cramlington Building No. 29 Asia Pacific
Northumberland NE23 1WW Oilfields Supply Center Ltd Unit 3A06, block G
United Kingdom PO box 1518 Jebel Ali, Dubai Phileo Damansara 1
Tel: +44-191-247-3200 United Arab Emirates Jalan 16/11, Off Jalan Damansara
Fax: +44-191-247-3101 Tel: 971 0 4883 7982 Seksyen 16
Fax: 971 0 4883 8929
North America 46350 Petaling Jaya
7105 Business Park Drive, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Houston, TX 77041 USA Malaysia
Tel: +1 713-849-6300 Tel: 603 7958 1828
Fax: +1 713-937-0740 Fax: 603 7958 1923

The regional offices are supported by operational bases in all the

major oil and gas production and transport regions of the world.
PII Pipeline Solutions is also supported by the GE Power System,
Oil and Gas global network of sales and service offices.
Issue 1
gepower.com/geoilandgas
info.geoil&gas@np.ge.com
Proof of Performance Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s

Technology is certainly important, but however

Higher Productivity
good it may be, the success of a pipeline integrity
program often depends on the ingenuity and Inspection: Productive future for decommissioned pipeline 4
experience of the people conducting it. Total Pipeline Integrity: Increased fuel demand to be met by uprating 6
In this booklet we have brought together stories
Cleaning: 7 tonnes of wax found in North Sea pipeline 7
from the field that demonstrate the ability of PII
Pipeline Solutions engineers, analysts and integrity
professionals to meet the unexpected challenges
that can come their way, often when they are far Greater Safety
from home.
Many times, the solution has been to call on the Inspection: Successful launch of new UltraScan CD tool 8

skills of another unit within our division – underlining Total Pipeline Integrity: Building the foundation for pipeline integrity 10
the advantages of working with an organization
Inspection: Dual-diameter inspection tool saves $1.5 M 12
capable of delivering end-to-end Total Pipeline
Integrity™ services.
If you would like to learn more about the products,
services and people of PII Pipeline Solutions, visit Longer Life
our website at www.gepower.com/PII, or call any
Total Pipeline Integrity: Rehabilitation program for 1960’s pipeline 13
of the offices listed on the back cover.
Repair: Epoxy Sleeve Repairs replace cutting-out 14

GIS: Mapping a new future 16

MagneScan, UltraScan WM, UltraScan CD, ScoutScan, CalScan, Epoxy Sleeve Repair, LAPA and
Total Pipeline Integrity are trademarks of PII Group Limited.

© 2002 General Electric Company. All Rights Reserved.

 Higher Productivity
Productive future for decommissioned pipeline
Length Adaptive Pressure Assessment helps establish uprating strategy
The Problem
During the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait territory
at the time of the Gulf War, and for some
years afterwards, a 30-inch, 92 km (58 mile)
crude oil pipeline operated by the Kuwait Oil
Company was closed down. The CP system
was also out of commission. Assuming that
corrosion growth had continued during its years
of disuse, when the pipeline was eventually
restored to service the company derated the
MAOP from 43.4 bar to 31 bar as a
precautionary measure.
At the time, the lower operating pressure was
acceptable, but the company knew that by
2005 it would be necessary to restore the
original MAOP in order to accommodate
increased production.
PII Pipeline Solutions was asked to carry out
metal loss inspections to assess the actual
extent of corrosion and to develop a repair
strategy that would enable the company to
meet its 2005 target.
The Solution
Although the pipeline, which crosses major roads
and runs through residential and commercial
areas, had been in service since 1958, it had
never previously undergone an in-line inspection
and had first to be modified. The inspection
was carried out successfully, and the high
resolution MagneScan® tool located
114,086 external and 56,302 internal metal
loss features.
4 5
Applying ANSI/ASME B31.G to these findings,
to operate safely at 36.5 bar approximately 290
features would require investigation and possible
repair. For operation at 43.4 bar approximately
3000 features would require investigation.
ANSI/ASME B31.G is known to be a conser-
vative approach to calculating the failure
pressure of defects, and an alternative method,
RSTRENG, is becoming more widely used.
RSTRENG has been recognized by the US
Department of Transportation and many other
regulatory bodies.
RSTRENG uses the basic same equation for
predicting failure stress as B31.G, but calls for
different definitions of three key variables – flow
stress, folias factor, and area of missing metal.
The last has a direct bearing on the way the
results of a metal loss inspection are interpreted.
According to B31.G, ”short” areas of missing
metal are approximated by a parabolic shaped
arc ( A= 2/3 dL, where d is the peak depth of
the corrosion and L is the total axial length).
This can be a very conservative assumption,
particularly where deep pits are surrounded by
shallow corrosion. This can result in unrealistically
low predictions of failure stress levels.
RSTRENG recognizes that the depth of a
corrosion feature varies with its axial length,
and provides the opportunity – given high
resolution inspection data – to make individual
Figure 1
Typical cluster of defects
calculations of the effective area of metal loss in
clusters and even within sections of each cluster.
Figure 1 shows a typical cluster of defects, and
the river-bottom profile which joins the maximum
depth of each defect.
The iterative calculations required to gain full
benefit from the RSTRENG approach can be a
formidable task, especially when, as in the case
of the Kuwait inspection, a large number of
defects are reported. To speed the process PII has
developed a software program, Length Adaptive
Pressure Assessment (LAPA™). LAPA calculates the
effective area of each cluster in terms which can
be used to carry out an RSTRENG assessment.
The Benefits
Using this LAPA based approach, it was found
that all the internal and external features were
Hi-Res MagneScan inspection located 114,086
external and 56,302 internal metal loss features.
tolerable at 36.5 bar. At the target MAOP for
2005, 43.4 bar, all the internal features were
tolerable but six external features would
require attention.
On the understanding that they wished to
increase the pressure linearly over a five year
period to 43.4 bar, PII provided the Kuwait Oil
Company with a schedule of repairs based on
estimated corrosion growth rates. A second
inspection will be carried out to allow for the
determination of actual corrosion growth rates
based on PII‘s proprietary RUNCOM™ software.
Benefits from gradual uprating include:
• Optimized cost of repair using LAPA
• No unnecessary repairs due to B-31G
For additional information, contact:
Tony Williams – Middle East
(anthony.williams @ og.ge.com)
 Higher Productivity
Increased fuel demand to be met using existing pipelines
PII Pipeline Solutions provides the technical justification for increased pressure.
The Problem
Air BP owns and operates two 6’ pipelines that
run 14.3 km from a supply terminal at Walton-
On-Thames to receipt terminals located at
Heathrow, supplying aviation fuel for one of
the world’s busiest airports.
At peak times, 213,000 passengers per day
pass through Heathrow. Such is the demand
for airport access and flight connections, that
the airport’s owners, BAA plc, are in the
process of building a fifth terminal. To meet the
ever--growing fuel demand that accompanies
this growth, Air BP wished to increase the
capacity of its existing pipelines by uprating
their operating pressure from a current MAOP
of 33 bar to 99 bar (Class 600).
The Solution
PII Pipeline Solutions was commissioned to
inspect and provide the technical support to
uprate these strategically important pipelines.
PII has a wealth of experience in uprating.
The key to success hinges on the resistance of
the pipeline to the increased pressure and the
damage/degradation processes that may
impact on their future integrity. The only reliable
way to ensure that all information critical to
assessing current and future pipeline condition
is through reliable, accurate in line inspection.
Both Air BP pipelines were built from seamless
pipe which is known for having wall thickness
variations and laminations. This and the fact
that they carry liquid fuel, indicated that an
6 7
UltraScan WM® inspection tool would be the
best choice, since it excels at very accurately
determining metal loss as well as laminations.
Following inspection, PII conducted a full fracture
mechanics assessment of all laminations deemed
“critical”. This included a check on the pressure
limits as well as the fatigue life of the lines.
Corrosion and forecast corrosion growth were
also assessed with respect to their impact on the
long-term safety and life of these pipelines.
The Benefits
The PII uprating study has provided Air BP with
the opportunity to increase throughput by up
to 80% with minimal environmental impact.
The cost of replacing the lines was estimated
at £7-10M and could take many years. The
cost of the current project is estimated at £1M,
the majority of which is attributable to the
replacement of line valves and depot facilities.
Inspection of the pipelines identified approxi-
mately 400 laminations, which without further
analysis would have been removed at an
estimated cost of £2M (£5K per repair). The
PII fitness-for-purpose assessment resulted in just
6 defects being scheduled for repair.
Laminations can be superficial as in this sliver, or
significant as in this surface breaking lamination.
Higher Productivity
7 tonnes of wax found in Nor th Sea pipeline
Multiple benefits follow enhanced cleaning
The Problem The Benefits
PII Pipeline Solutions were about to carry out an The first benefit was a successful MFL inspection,
inline inspection of a 30-inch, 118 km crude oil completed according to program. The second
export pipeline in the North Sea. There was was a reduced load on the pumps used to
considerable doubt concerning the ability of the transport product, saving energy and wear and
inspection tool to perform as it should, due to tear, thanks to the lower differential pressure
the internal condition of the pipeline. PII Kershaw along the pipeline after cleaning. A third benefit
were contracted to prepare the way for inspection. was the opportunity to limit the use of Drag
Reducing Agents to improve product flow –
The pipeline was known to be affected by hard
a significant expenditure.
wax deposits adhering to the interior pipewall.
An additional problem was the internal coating
of the line, a fusion-bonded epoxy, which had
disbonded and bubbled in certain areas,
particularly around the girth welds. The inspection
team was concerned that the combination of
hard wax deposits and loose coating would
cause sensor lift-off during the inspection run,
resulting in patchy or incomplete data.
The Solution
First, the cleaning team developed a pigging
strategy which would remove the areas of
Prior to inspection, a custom-engineered cleaning
disbonded epoxy coating while leaving the program was required to remove the hard wax
sound coating intact and capable of resisting deposits and loose coating which threatened the
the more aggressive pigs which would be needed success of the in-line survey.
to remove the hard wax.
A series of trials resulted in a suite of enhanced
cleaning pigs capable of cleaning the pipeline
without further complicating the problem. A team
of PII engineers were mobilized offshore to carry
out the cleaning operation. In total, over 7 tonnes
of hard wax were removed from the line before
For additional information, contact:
it could be declared clean.
Increased fuel demand: 7 tonnes of wax:
Alan Mather – WEA (UK) David Cockfield – WEA (UK)
(alan.mather@og.ge.com) (david.cockfield@og.ge.com)
 Greater Safety
Successful launch of new tool
Small diameter UltraScan CD makes first run for Williams Gas
The Problem
During routine hydrotesting for requalification
in 1994 multiple failures were experienced in
Williams Gas‘ 16" x 52 km gas pipeline,
which runs from Camas WA to Eugene OR,
in the Pacific Northwest. The most probable
cause was longitudinal Stress Corrosion
Cracking (SCC). With requalification due
again in 2001, Williams looked for a more
cost-effective alternative to hydrotesting for
confirming the integrity of the pipeline. An
in-line inspection using the PII Pipeline Solutions
UltraScan CD® inspection tool was the chosen
method, and Williams became the first commercial
user of the newly-introduced 16" tool in this
well-proven technology.
A giant step smaller
Previously, UltraScan CD technology had only
been available for pipelines 24" or greater in
diameter. Development of the smaller tool
began in 1999. The project was a major
challenge for PII design engineers, since the
cross section area of a 16" pipe is approximately
45% that of a 24" pipe. The electronics systems
required to process the very large amount of
data collected by the CD tool had to be
reduced in volume by at least 55%. Power
consumption had also to be reduced, because
of limited battery space. Another restriction was
that the new tool could not be longer than 6.5 m
– the length of most standard tool launchers.
In the event, the engineering team overshot its
8 9
mark. The degree of miniaturization achieved
will enable even smaller diameter tools to be
developed in future. The appearance of the
tool has also changed; instead of a single
array of sensors which carries out both clock-
wise and counterclockwise scans of the
pipewall, the 16" tool has two arrays, one for
each direction.
batch was 1.1 km (.68 miles); total length of to propel the water batch. Tool speed was held
the inspection run was 27.5 km (17 miles). close to 1m/sec, despite an 80 m change in
elevation and variations in wall thickness.
In order to carry out the complex launch
procedure, with minimum disruption of service,
The Benefits
a custom launcher was designed and built. The
launcher design enabled all pigs and the tool to For the first time, an UltraScan CD tool success-
be in place well before the launch, with all air fully inspected a 16” pipeline. Data was verified
removed from the barrel. Kicker lines enabled in the field and found to be good. Williams Gas
The Solution each pig to be launched in sequence. Truck has begun repairs and is very pleased with the
mounted twin 5,000 psi compressors were used accuracy of the inspection results.
A new launching system
UltraScan CD requires a liquid coupling to the Figure 1
pipewall in order to make ultrasound measure-
ments. Therefore, when it is used in a natural
gas pipeline the tool runs in a batch of liquid,
usually water. For the Williams 16” inspection,
a new launching and retrieval technique, jointly
developed by PII and Williams, was used for
the first time. (See Figure 1)
For this inspection it was necessary to first
launch three sealing pigs, then the tool, and Innovative use of batching technology allows the
finally two sealing pigs. Total length of the liquid UltraScan CD to be run in a gas line.
For additional information, contact:
Terry Wheeler – NA (Houston)
(terry.wheeler@og.ge.com)
 Greater Safety
Building the foundation for pipeline integrity
Risk assessment & inspection create long-term program for national system
The Problem
The state-owned gas distribution company of
Bulgaria, Bulgargaz, plays a critical role in the
economy of eastern Europe, far beyond the
country’s borders. In addition to a 997 km ring
main supplying the domestic market, another
1,000 km of transit lines serve customers in
Serbia, Greece, Turkey and Macedonia.
Originally built to a design pressure of 55 bar,
the system was derated by the authorities to 44 bar
in 1992. In 1997 PII was invited to carry out
a preliminary study to establish a program for
rehabilitation and future maintenance. Because
the project was financed by the European
Community through a PHARE program, and the
company’s future budget was limited, major
emphasis was given to developing the most
cost-effective procedures possible.
The Solution
The first stage was to conduct a qualitative
study of all the pipelines within the system,
employing PII proprietary software. Using input
from existing construction, operation and main-
tenance records, each section was ranked for
degree of risk.
Since the funds available would allow rehabilitation
of only one pipeline, focus was shifted to the
Beglezh to Novy Iskar section, which was at
highest risk. This pipeline is 28 inches in diameter,
125 km in length, and was the oldest in the
system, having been constructed from 1972-4.
10
Examination of the pipeline’s historical documen- inadequate a temporary ground bed and
tation confirmed that the majority of the dents power supply was installed to restore
had been formed during construction, and necessary performance.
therefore had survived the pre-service hydrostatic
test. Nine dents, however, had been formed The Benefits
while the pipeline was in service, and required
Bulgargaz was given a detailed program for
further investigation.
rehabilitation of one section of the system.
Localized failure of the CP system was thought The program included a recommendation for
to have been one cause of the large number of re-inspection within five years, in order to establish
external corrosion features. A section of the the rate of corrosion growth. They were also given
Beglezh to Novy Iskar pipeline was investigated, the results of the risk assessment, which forms
using both ON and OFF potentials, to check the basis of a prioritized, cost-effective, long-
the level of cathodic protection. Where it was term rehabilitation and maintenance program.
In common with the rest of the system, this
section of pipe had never been inspected by Prioritization Software
an intelligent tool, so special care was taken to Software which helps prioritize maintenance programs for 1. Identify and prioritize threats to choose appropriate maintenance
clean and gauge the pipeline to ensure safe an entire pipeline system. Combining PII’s worldwide
passage of the tool. pipeline integrity experience with data specific to your own
system, this custom software package provides operators
The collected data formed the basis for a
with an invaluable tool for allocating resources effectively
fitness-for-purpose assessment, which relates the and establishing future maintenance schedules.
size and location of defects to pipeline operating
conditions in order to ensure future safety. In
2. Develop relative risk matrix 3. Rank pipelines for maintenance activity
this case the most significant findings were
close to 4,000 external corrosion defects and
over 500 dents.
Using ANSI/ASME B31.G, 58 of the external
corrosion features would have to be repaired
to raise the operating pressure to 55 bar. A
less conservative assessment method, approved
by the regulatory authorities, reduced this
number to just 6 defects.
For additional information, contact:
Basil Hostage – CIS (Karlsrhue)
11 (basil.hostage@og.ge.com)
 Greater Safety
Dual-diameter inspection tool saves $1.5 M
Construction simplified for Enbridge system
The Problem
The Enbridge Inc. hydrocarbon transmission
system has grown to be the world's largest, with
many different sizes of pipeline in operation.
At a major expansion project, initiated in 1998,
a decision was made to simplify the process
of inspection.
There were two options: either to add an
intricate network of crossover piping and
mainline valves to facilitate the launching and
receiving of 36" and 48" inspection tools; or
to develop an MFL tool capable of inspecting
both sizes of pipe in a single run. The dual-size
inspection capability, if it could be achieved,
would substantially reduce the costs of the
expansion project.
The Solution
PII carried out feasibility studies early in 1998.
The most promising design concept employed
an array of magnet assemblies capable of
moving outwards to fit the larger size and
collapsing inwards for the smaller size.
Many components had already been proven in
use, but new solutions had to be developed for
the support and drive mechanisms. In the 36"
configuration, the tool operates in a similar
manner to a standard MagneScan tool, with
the magnet assemblies clustered around the
center section of the tool, and drive cups front
and rear. As the tool passes through the taper
from 36" to 48" the magnet assemblies move
12
outwards on hinged support mechanisms. At
the same time secondary drive elements, front
and rear, open up, with an umbrella action.
The first prototype tool was pulled through pipe
spools with machined defects, in order to create
the defect sizing database, and through a
mechanical proving line with worst-case features
such as large unbarred take-offs, minimum
bores, and dents. Pump tests, in water, were
also carried out to fully evaluate the tool's ability
to pass from one size of pipe to the other, and
back again.
The Benefits
All field inspections were successfully carried
out in the Enbridge system. By selecting the
multi-diameter tool alternative Enbridge saved
an estimated $1.5 million on construction.
There were further savings of time, and
increased security since no additional above-
ground facilities were required.
For additional information, contact:
Daryl Ronsky – NA (Canada)
(daryl.ronsky@og.ge.com)
Rehabilitation program for 1960‘s pipeline
Derating – the first step to future profitability
A major onshore fuel transporter in the UK operates
a 100 km, 10-inch diameter, fuel oil pipeline.
Commissioned in 1969, the pipeline was designed
to operate at 105 bar, and until 1984 was used
to transport hot fuel oil. Currently it carries jet fuel.
The Problem
The pipeline had been inspected by PII Pipeline
Solutions in 1988, 1992 and 1996, using
MagneScan® technology. Over 7,000 occurrences
of external corrosion were reported throughout
the pipeline, with the most severe corrosion being
located in the first 10 km. Thermal cycling of the
pipeline during hot oil service had caused
irreparable damage to the external coating allowing
water and contaminates to penetrate defects in the
outer polyethylene jacket coating and through the
polyurethane foam insulation. In this condition the
cathodic protection (CP) was largely ineffective,
since the outer jacket coating was shielding the
CP from the pipe.
A leak occurred at a corrosion pit only 7 months
after the 1996 inspection. A subsequent
investigation discovered the cause of the leak
was bacterial corrosion which had grown at
an excelerated rate of about 3mm/year.
The Solution
The pipeline was downrated to 40 bar, immediately
following the leak. PII re-inspected the pipeline and
conducted a detailed corrosion growth assessment
of the 1996 and 1997 inspection findings looking
for any potential locations of bacterial corrosion
13
Longer Life
particularly those showing rapid growth.
A Fitness-for-Purpose assessment was also
conducted to develop the immediate and future
rehabilitation plan. The most urgent repairs were
carried out using Clockspring™ or Epoxy Sleeve™
techniques, and the pipeline coating was also
replaced in many areas. In1997, over 2.3 km
of pipeline were rehabilitated, and the operating
pressure increased to 60 bar.
A longer term strategy was developed; it includes
in-line inspection every two years, with a full
corrosion growth assessment and Fitness-for-Purpose
analysis conducted after each inspection. The
calculated corrosion growth rates being used as the
basis for planning the future maintenance strategy.
The Benefits
The rehabilitation program is in progress, and
continues to deliver important economic benefits.
• The pipeline continues to operate safely
during the extensive program of repairs.
• In 1997 the operating pressure was
increased to 60 bar. There are plans
for a further uprating to 83 bar.
• The replacement of the first 10 km of the
pipeline is currently in progress and
due for completion by the end of 2002.
• Long-term integrity is assured under a
program which closely monitors corrosion
activity and sets the most cost-effective
timetable for future maintenance.
For additional information, contact:
Alan Mather – WEA (UK)
(alan.mather@og.ge.com)
 Longer Life
Epoxy Sleeve Repairs replace cutting-out
New approach brings safety and flexibility to pipeline repair
The Problem
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) operates
a 12,000 km network in the Sultanate of
Oman. Some pipelines installed in 1967 are
still in operation.
PDO approached PII Pipeline Solutions for
help in managing internal slot-shaped corrosion.
An MFL inspection was successful in locating
areas of metal loss.
Previously, PDO had dealt with necessary
repairs by cutting-out and replacing sections
of pipeline, or by welding half-shells over the
defect. Loss of production, environmental
problems, and the dangers of hot welding on
the pipeline made both approaches unaccept-
able in the long term.
PII was asked to investigate the ability of its
Epoxy Sleeve Repair (ESR) to contain
through-wall leaks of sour crude. An ESR
consists of an over-sized steel sleeve surrounding
the damaged section of pipe. The gap
between the inside of the sleeve and the outside
of the pipe is filled with an epoxy grout
which, when cured, provides the necessary
extra support to the pipe. ESR is normally
applied to non-leaking pipe to compensate
for internal or external metal loss, and similar
defects. In the PDO system there was a strong
likelihood that internal corrosion would continue
beneath the repair, eventually bringing crude
into direct contact with the epoxy. Would the
performance of the epoxy be negatively affected?
14
The Solution
A number of tests were carried out at the PII
Repair Centre in the UK. In one series, samples
of cured epoxy were immersed in Omani
crude, and over a period of 100 days were
tested for changes in tensile strength and
modulus. There were no significant changes.
In a second series samples were immersed in
either Omani crude or water in pressure vessels
at 70 bar, rising to 91 bar, over a period of
60 days. Samples were then tested for
changes in tensile strength and modulus.
There were no significant changes.
In a third series a container simulating a The ESR technique is fast, safe, allows the pipeline to remain in production throughout the application
pipeline with through-wall defects was fabricated. procedure, and returns the repaired section to full strength.
An ESR was applied to the container, which
long, but others required multiple sleeves joined All these repairs have been made on operating
was then filled with Omani crude and water
by girth welding. The longest of these multiple- pipelines, without risk to the environment or to
at a pressure of 70 bar for 30 days, then 90
sleeve installations is 20 meters in length. the installation crews.
bar for 30 days. Pressure then cycled
between 70 and 90 bar for 1,000 cycles, to
E p o x y S l e e v e R e p a i r Te c h n i q u e
represent 40 years’ operation of the pipeline.
The ESR was then sectioned in order to examine
the condition of the epoxy. Apart from some
slight staining caused by the crude it was
unaffected, and there was no sign of leakage.
The Benefits 1. Two oversized steel half- 2. Specially formulated epoxy 3. After the grout has cured –
shells are joined together to grout is mixed on-site and usually about 24 hours –
PDO immediately adopted ESR as its prime
cover the damaged section injected into the space screws and vents are ground
response to metal loss in their pipelines. To
of pipe. between the pipe and the off and the sleeve is given a
date PII has installed over 800 meters of ESR
repair sleeve. protective coating.
on pipelines which vary in size from 6 to 48
inches in diameter. Most repairs are 2-meters
For additional information, contact:
Peter O’Sullivan – WEA (UK)
15 (peter.osullivan@og.ge.com)
 Longer Life

Mapping a new future

GIS cuts maintenance costs, increases safety for GASCO Egypt

The Problem

In 1997 the Egyptian General Petroleum
Corporation established a subsidiary,
GASCO, to take sole responsibility for the
country’s gas transmission system. One of the
new company’s first priorities was to ascertain
the condition of the 3,000 km network, some
of which dated back 25 years, and none of
which had ever been inspected. Because
many pipelines passed through populated
areas, GASCO anticipated difficulty in gaining
access for surveying and inspection purposes.
Instead, they asked PII Pipeline Solutions to
combine a metal loss inspection with an
internal mapping survey, and to bring all
available data together in a Geographical
Information System (GIS).
Leakage (MFL) inspection tool, the most reliable
method of measuring metal loss in-line, with
an on-board Inertial Navigation System (INS)
to perform mapping functions.
In addition to metal loss data, MagneScan
automatically records positioning data in the
form of odometer readings and by locating
known features such as girth welds, tees and
valves. The INS measures and records the
rate of change of distance and direction of
the tool in X, Y and Z axes. The INS does
not record absolute position: fixed reference
points are required along the pipeline to
enable absolute positions to be calculated.
To achieve the +/-1m accuracy required by
GASCO, control points were established at
3 km intervals.
local reference network was transformed to
UTM co-ordinates for the sake of consistency.
The GIS built on this foundation will eventually
give GASCO integrity engineers instant access
to all relevant information concerning a specific
location within the system. Feeding into the
GIS are an Asset Integrity Management (AIM)
system, and the defect data from the metal-loss
survey. UTM co-ordinates are therefore available
for every asset and for every defect.
In addition, a suite of functions allows integration,
analysis and output of population density mapping,
integrity maintenance and monitoring, land use
and land owner data, and any other relevant
information the users care to record. One In-line ScoutScan surveys delivered accurate
notable feature is automatic safety calculation pipeline positioning data in one tenth the time of
based on ASME standards. standard above-ground techniques.

Smaller diameter pipelines could not be

mapped in-line, and were instead surveyed
by standard above-ground techniques. These
surveys took ten times longer than the ScoutScan
surveys, and correlation of geographical and
metal loss information was only achieved
with difficulty.

The Solution The Benefits

ScoutScan: the right tool for the job
For the greater part of the network the in-line
inspection and the mapping survey were
carried out simultaneously, using the dual
purpose ScoutScan® tool. ScoutScan is a
MagneScan® high resolution Magnetic Flux
16
Straight to the point
Only a few years previously the Egyptian
Survey Authority had established a high
accuracy reference network. Since the entire
area being mapped fell within Universal
Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 36R, the
For additional information, contact:
Tim Marston – CIS (Karlsrhue)
17 (tim.marston@og.ge.com)
Integrity Ser vices
G E O i l & G a s : U n l i m i t e d r e s o u r c e s , u n m a t c h e d i n t e g r i t y,
and the motivation to overcome all obstacles on your behalf.
GE Oil & Gas brings together the talents and resources of eight companies, in three
countries, on two continents and makes them accessible from a single point of contact.
You’ll benefit from the experience of world leaders in technologies that serve every
sector of the oil and gas industry, from wellhead to consumer. With headquarters in
Florence, Italy, the GE Oil & Gas business includes:
Nuovo Pignone: A Center of Excellence for project engineering,
turbomachinery, reciprocating compressors, pumps,
valves, metering and fuel distribution equipment and
services.
Thermodyn: A Center of Excellence for low to medium pressure
barrel type centrifugal compressors and impulse
steam turbines.
Rotoflow: A Center of Excellence for hydrocarbon turboexpanders.
Gemini: A Center of Excellence for high speed reciprocating
compressors.
A-C Compressors: A Center of Excellence for oil-free screw compressors,
rotary vane and single stage overhung centrifugal
compressors.
Conmec: A Center of Excellence for compressor after-market
services
Odessa: A Center of Excellence for gas turbine after-market
services.
PII Pipeline Solutions: A Center of Excellence for Pipeline Inspection and
Integrity Services.
18
To better serve our customers, to emphasize “one stop”
solutions rather than individual products, and to integrate
the respective GE Oil & Gas businesses into a customer-
focused team, our business is organized into Streams
which parallel the structure of our market:
Upstream: Oil & Gas production
Midstream: Transportation & Storage
Downstream: Refineries & Petrochemicals
Distribution: Wholesale & Retail
In addition we have three business units which provide
service across all of the streams:
Industrial Plants: design of integrated customer solutions
Global Services: installation, startup and aftermarket
services, including: Conversions, Modifications & Uprates,
Contractual Service Agreements (CSA), Multi-vendor
Solutions, Reliability, Availability, Maintainability (RAM)
Engineering and e-Services
Pipeline Solutions: in-line inspection and pipeline integrity
management services
When you need the efficiency of a single, complete
solution, call on the GE Oil & Gas Division that serves
your business sector. You’ll get straight answers, single-
point responsibility, and quick completion on any size of
project, from people who understand your business.
19
PII Pipeline Solutions Global Offices Case Histories
Headquarters Central Europe and CIS South America Application stories from the field
Atley Way, Cramlington, Lorenzstrasse 10 Dr. Mariano Moreno 4476
Northumberland NE23 1WW D-76297 Stutensee-Blankenloch B1605 BOF - Munro
United Kingdom Germany Vincente López – Buenos Aires
Tel: +44 191 247 3200 Tel: +49-7244-732-0 Argentina
Fax: +44 191 247 3101 Fax: +49-7244-732-149 Tel: 5411-4721-4700
Fax: 5411-4721-4701
Western Europe and Africa Middle East
Atley Way, Cramlington Building No. 29 Asia Pacific
Northumberland NE23 1WW Oilfields Supply Center Ltd Unit 3A06, block G
United Kingdom PO box 1518 Jebel Ali, Dubai Phileo Damansara 1
Tel: +44-191-247-3200 United Arab Emirates Jalan 16/11, Off Jalan Damansara
Fax: +44-191-247-3101 Tel: 971 0 4883 7982 Seksyen 16
Fax: 971 0 4883 8929
North America 46350 Petaling Jaya
7105 Business Park Drive, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Houston, TX 77041 USA Malaysia
Tel: +1 713-849-6300 Tel: 603 7958 1828
Fax: +1 713-937-0740 Fax: 603 7958 1923

The regional offices are supported by operational bases in all the

major oil and gas production and transport regions of the world.
PII Pipeline Solutions is also supported by the GE Power System,
Oil and Gas global network of sales and service offices.
Issue 1
gepower.com/geoilandgas
info.geoil&gas@np.ge.com