Field Demonstration Report Enhancing Direct Assessment by Inspection through Coatings and Buried Regions of Non-Piggable Pipelines

Authors

EMAT Ultrasonics, Inc.

Date of this Version

2007

Comments

Published in Contract DTPH56-06-T-0009 (2007) 5 p.

Abstract

Sonic Sensors of EMAT Ultrasonics Inc, with support from Pacific Gas and Electric as well as Southern California Gas has an R&D Contract with the DOT, PHMSA, OPS No. DTPH56-06-T-0009. The goal of this contract was to develop a method to inspect the full body of a pipe without having to remove the coating or completely excavate the pipe as shown in Figure 1. External Corrosion Direct Assessment, ECDA, depends on exploratory digging to evaluate the condition of suspect coatings detected by cathodic protection CIS. Minimizing the extent of excavation required to perform an ECDA evaluation has obvious cost savings as well as minimizing environmental impacts which are so critical in High Consequence Areas.