Non-destructive inspection shall be conducted by level 1, 2 or 3 personnel, using procedures approved by level 3

personnel.

Evaluation of indications shall be performed by level 2 or 3 personnel, or by level 1 personnel under the supervision of
level 2 or 3 personnel.

10.15.3 Reference Standards

For seamless pipe, coupling stock, and the pipe body of electric welded pipe, ultrasonic and electromagnetic
inspection systems for verification, other than wall thickness verification, shall use reference standards containing
notches or holes as described in Tables C.43 and C.44, or Tables E.43 and E.44 to verify equipment response from
artificial reference indicators.

When ultrasonic inspection systems are used for verification of the weld seam, reference standards containing
notches or holes as described in Tables C.43 and C.44, or Tables E.43 and E.44 shall be used to verify equipment
response from artificial reference indicators. When holes are used to establish the reject threshold, the manufacturer
shall use a documented procedure to ensure the correct transducer alignment with the weld line.

The manufacturer may use any documented procedure to establish the reject threshold for ultrasonic or
electromagnetic inspection provided the artificial reference indicators described in Tables C.43 and C.44, or Tables
E.43 and E.44 are detected dynamically, at or above the reject threshold, under normal operating conditions. Such
detection capability shall be demonstrated dynamically. At the option of the manufacturer this may be performed
either online or offline.

Tables C.43 and C.44, or Tables E.43 and E.44 list the acceptance (inspection) levels and associated artificial
reference indicators that manufacturers shall use in establishing thresholds for sorting pipe that may contain defects
as defined in 8.13. The reference indicators, used during automated ultrasonic or electromagnetic inspection, are not
to be construed as being the defect sizes defined in 8.13, or to be used by those other than the manufacturer as the
only basis for pipe rejection.

When standardizing EMI equipment using drilled holes, the inspection system shall be capable of producing signals
from both outside-wall and inside-wall notches that are equal to or greater than the reject threshold established using
the drilled hole. Records in accordance with 10.15.4 shall be maintained.

10.15.4 NDE System Capability Records

10.15.4.1 The manufacturer shall maintain NDE system records verifying the system(s) capabilities in detecting the
reference indicators used to establish the equipment test sensitivity.

10.15.4.2 The verification shall cover, as a minimum, the following criteria:

a) coverage calculation (i.e. scan plan), including wall thickness verification,

b) capability for the intended wall thickness,

c) repeatability,

d) transducer orientation that provides detection of defects typical of the manufacturing process (see 10.15.1),

e) documentation demonstrating that defects typical of the manufacturing process are detected using the NDE
methods in Table C.42 or Table E.42, and

f) threshold-setting parameters.
10.15.4.3 In addition, the manufacturer shall maintain documentation relating to:

a) NDE system operating procedures,

b) NDE equipment description,

c) NDE personnel qualification information, and

d) dynamic test data demonstrating the NDE system/operation capabilities under production test conditions.

10.15.5 Pipe Body or Coupling Stock Inspection-General

Unless otherwise agreed, all required NDE operations (except visual inspection, but including the final end-area
inspection in accordance with 10.15.13) for pipe and coupling stock shall be carried out after final heat treatment and
rotary straightening operations, with the following exceptions:

a) certain types of pup joint (see 10.15.11), and

b) when more than one pipe-body NDE method is applied, one of these (other than ultrasonic inspection) may take
place prior to heat treatment/rotary straightening.

Additional requirements for PSL-2 and PSL-3 products are given in Annex H.

10.15.6 Full-body, Full-length NDE of Casing and Tubing—Grades N80 (All Types), L80, and R95

All pipe shall be inspected for the detection of imperfections on the outside and inside surfaces by one or more of the
following methods:

a) ultrasonic testing to acceptance level as specified in Table C.43 or Table E.43 in accordance with ISO 10893-10 or
ASTM E213;

b) flux leakage testing to acceptance level as specified in Table C.43 or Table E.43 in accordance with ISO 10893-3
or ASTM E570;

c) eddy current concentric coil testing to acceptance level as specified in Table C.43 or Table E.43 in accordance
with ISO 10893-2 or ASTM E309;

d) for pipe outside surface, magnetic particle inspection in accordance with ISO 10893-5 or ASTM E709.

Additional requirements for PSL-2 and PSL-3 products are given in Annex H.

10.15.7 Full-body, Full-length NDE of Casing and Tubing—Grade P110 to K.9 (SR 16)

All pipe shall be inspected for the detection of both longitudinal and transverse imperfections on the outside and
inside surfaces to acceptance level L4 by one or more of the following methods:

a) ultrasonic testing in accordance with ISO 10893-10 or ASTM E213 (longitudinal) and ISO 10893-10 or ASTM
E213 (transverse);

b) flux leakage testing in accordance with ISO 10893-3 or ASTM E570 (longitudinal) and ISO 10893-3 or ASTM
E570 (transverse);

c) eddy current concentric coil testing in accordance with ISO 10893-2 or ASTM E309.
Additional requirements for PSL-3 products are given in Annex H.

10.15.8 Full-body, Full-length NDE of Casing and Tubing-grade P110 and Grade P110 to K.9 (SR 16) and K.3
(SR 2)

All pipe shall be inspected for the detection of both longitudinal and transverse imperfections on the outside and
inside surfaces to acceptance level L2 by one or more of the following methods:

a) ultrasonic testing in accordance with ISO 10893-10 or ASTM E213 (longitudinal) and ISO 10893-10 or ASTM
E213 (transverse);

b) flux leakage testing in accordance with ISO 10893-3 or ASTM E570 (longitudinal) and ISO 10893-3 or ASTM
E570 (transverse);

c) eddy current concentric coil testing in accordance with ISO 10893-2 or ASTM E309.

Additional requirements for PSL-3 products are given in Annex H.

10.15.9 Full-body, Full-length NDE of Casing and Tubing-grades C90, T95, C110, and Q125

All pipe shall be ultrasonically inspected for the detection of both longitudinal and transverse imperfections on the
outside and inside surfaces to acceptance level L2 in accordance with ISO 10893-10 or ASTM E213 (longitudinal)
and ISO 10893-10 or ASTM E213 (transverse).

In addition, all pipes shall be inspected for the detection of imperfections on the outside surface by one of the
following methods:

a) flux leakage testing to acceptance level F2/L2 in accordance with ISO 10893-3 or ASTM E570 (longitudinal) and
ISO 10893-3 or ASTM E570 (transverse);

b) eddy current testing to acceptance level E2/L2 in accordance with ISO 10893-2 or ASTM E309;

c) magnetic particle inspection in accordance with ISO 10893-5 or ASTM E709.

10.15.10 NDE of the Weld Seam of Welded Pipe

Unless otherwise agreed, the timing of the weld seam inspection of welded pipe shall be at the manufacturer’s
discretion, with the exception of quenched and tempered welded pipe, the weld seam inspection shall take place after
final heat treatment and rotary straightening operations.

NDE of the weld seam of electric-welded pipe shall be carried out using inspection equipment capable of full
volumetric inspection over a 3 mm (1/8 in.) wide zone centered on the fusion line.

If the NDE of the weld seam is performed simultaneously with the full-body, full-length NDE, then the reference
standard shall contain all of the required artificial reference indicators (for pipe body and weld seam) as described in
Table C.44 or Table E.44.

NOTE As described in Table C.43 or Table E.43, the acceptance level for the pipe body and the weld seam can be different.

For Grades H40, J55, K55, N80 (all types), R95, and L80 (all types), the weld seam shall be inspected for the
detection of longitudinal imperfections by one or more of the following methods:

a) ultrasonic testing to acceptance level U3/L3 in accordance with ISO 10893-11 or ASTM E273 or ISO 10893-10 or
ASTM E213;
b) flux leakage testing to acceptance level F3/L3 in accordance with ISO 10893-3 or ASTM E570;

c) eddy current testing to acceptance level E3/L3 in accordance with ISO 10893-2 or ASTM E309.

For Grades P110 and Q125, the requirements of K.6.5 (SR 11.5) shall apply.

Additional requirements for PSL-2 and PSL-3 products are given in Annex H. When K.13 (SR 40) is specified in the
purchase agreement for all Grades except P110 and Q125, the additional requirements of K.13 (SR 40) apply.

10.15.11 NDE of Coupling Stock (Except Grade C110), Accessory Material (Except Grade C110) and Pup
Joints (All Grades)

10.15.11.1 When NDE is required for coupling stock or accessory material, except Grade C110, according to Table
C.42 or Table E.42, the inspection shall be for the detection of imperfections on the outside surface by one or more of
the following methods:

a) ultrasonic testing to acceptance level as specified in Table C.43 or Table E.43 in accordance with ISO 10893-10 or
ASTM E213;

b) flux leakage testing to acceptance level as specified in Table C.43 or Table E.43 in accordance with ISO 10893-3
or ASTM E570;

c) eddy current concentric coil testing to acceptance level as specified in Table C.43 or Table E.43 in accordance
with ISO 10893-2 or ASTM E309;

d) magnetic particle inspection in accordance with ISO 10893-5 or ASTM E709.

The reference indicators used by the manufacturer to calibrate the compression and shear wave ultrasonic
equipment may be retained in the coupling stock. If the reference indicators are retained in the reference standard,
the outside-wall surface area adjacent to the reference indicators shall be stencilled with the letters “RI”. The
reference indicators shall be considered defects and marked in accordance with 10.15.18 b).

10.15.11.2 Pup joints shall be inspected and meet the same requirements as casing and tubing.

a) For pup joints made from full-length casing and tubing, the required inspection for inside and outside defects shall
take place either before or after cutting into final length, provided there is no subsequent upsetting or heat
treatment.

b) For pup joints machined from pipe or bar stock, the required inspection shall take place either before or after
machining to final product dimensions; however, the outside surface shall be visually inspected subsequent to
being machined to final product dimensions.

c) For all other pup joints, except for those round thread pup joints in d), the required inspection shall be performed
according to a) above.

d) For API round thread pup joints in size designations listed in Table C.2 or Table E.2 for Grades H40, J55, K55,
N80 (all types), R95, L80 (all types), and P110, the required inspections, unless otherwise agreed upon between
purchaser and manufacturer, are as specified in e).

e) For outside surface and end areas, the required inspection shall be performed following any upset process and
final heat treatment. For Grade P110 pup joints, magnetic particle inspection for the detection of longitudinal and
transverse defects may be substituted for the required outside surface inspection.

Additional requirements for PSL-2 and PSL-3 products are given in Annex H.