TPi April 2008

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50 Tube Products International April 2008
On installation, a pipeline is a marvel of integrity. It has to be.
The conditions under which it will operate allow very little margin
for error in the manufacture of the mega-sections or in the design
of the connections.
But, although a pipeline is a sealed system, there is nothing static
about the transport of oil and gas. The soundness of the line must be
ensured over long distances, in rugged terrain, for a life in service that
justifies an extraordinary initial outlay in capital and human endeavour.
Without regular and reliable inspection for bond integrity, corrosion,
and leakage, the risks — to populations and environments, to say
nothing of productivity and profitability — are, simply, insupportable.
No problem on a pipeline is ever a small one. If it is discovered timely
and analysed accurately, it will be a manageable one. The equipment
and services reviewed in this section have been developed to serve
that ideal.
Equipment
Pipel ine Inspect ion
Photo – Olympus NDT
see page 52