Successful inline inspection of gas storage pipeline in northern Germany

3P Services recently completed a turnkey inline inspection (ILI) project for a 10” field pipeline connecting an operational site to a cavern at a gas storage facility in northern Germany. This comprehensive project showcased the company’s expertise in pipeline integrity management and marked a critical milestone for the client.

Project Overview

The pipeline, which had never been inspected before, had to be inspected using free swimming ILI tools to ensure its integrity and operational safety. To achieve this, the pipeline was temporarily decommissioned and taken out of service, allowing 3P Services and its contractor to take over operational control and commence the inspection activities.

Key Phases of the Project

1. Preparation and Cleaning
   Temporary traps were installed at both ends of the pipeline to facilitate the inspection process. The line was filled with water, and a series of specialized cleaning tools were deployed to ensure the internal surface was free from debris or obstructions. This rigorous cleaning phase prepared the pipeline for the intelligent ILI tool run.

2. Selection of Inspection Technology
   Given the pipeline’s heavy wall thickness, ultrasonic wall thickness measurement (UT-WT) was determined to be the most effective inspection method. 3P Services utilized one of its high-resolution UT inspection tools, capable of delivering precise metal loss measurements. This baseline inspection was particularly significant as the pipeline had never undergone assessment prior to this project.

3. Advanced UT Fleet Capabilities
   3P Services’ current ultrasonic inspection tool fleet, available off the shelf, covers pipeline diameters ranging from 3” to 12”. This flexibility allows the company to address a wide range of pipeline configurations and operational requirements, ensuring comprehensive inspection coverage for various client needs.

4. Execution and Data Acquisition
   The high-precision UT tool traversed the pipeline, collecting detailed measurements and identifying any potential metal loss. Additionally, the onboard XYZ unit, equipped with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), recorded the tool’s exact movements. This enabled the precise geographic mapping of welds and detected anomalies, ensuring that any areas of concern could be accurately located for future reference.

5. Completion and Recommissioning
   Following the successful ILI run, the pipeline was drained, dried, and prepared for recommissioning. The entire field execution phase, from initial pipeline takeover to the final handover, was completed within one working week - a demonstration of the efficiency and expertise of the 3P Services team.

Delivering Value Through Expertise

This project highlights 3P Services’ ability to manage complex ILI operations under tight schedules while employing cutting-edge inspection technologies. By providing accurate baseline data, the client now has a comprehensive understanding of the pipeline’s condition, ensuring safer and more reliable operations moving forward.

Fig. 1: 3P Services 3”-12” ultrasonic (UT-WM) inspection tool fleet

Fig.2: 3P UT module