SCC Single

SCC
Colonies

Fatigue

Shrinkage

Hook

Lack of
Fusion

Dents with
Cracking

When it comes to Crack Detection...

PII has the answer

HIC

ELIMINATE THE HIDDEN DANGER

For every type of crack . . .
Cracking can be catastrophic and invisible to
the eye. A crack may be invisible to the eye,
but it can damage the pipeline sufficiently to
cause a catastrophic failure by bursting.
There are many types of crack SCC, fatigue,
hydrogen-induced, sulfide corrosion. They
occur in the base material of the pipe, in
welds and in the heat-affected zone. Cracks
can also weaken axial and girth welds, and
develop from other defects, such as dents.

PII Pipeline Solutions has developed multiple

technologies for identifying, locating and
monitoring the many types of crack that can

. . . PII has the right tool

compromise pipeline integrity.

Detecting cracks is a major challenge: only a specialized tool can find the target, and
the highest resolution is required to take its measure. PII Pipeline Solutions is alone
in offering four well-proven crack detection tools for this critically important task.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOOL

Fatigue Cracks
Hairline Cracks
Stress Corrosion Cracks (SCC) and colonies

Tool

E M AT S C A N C D

E L A S T I C WAV E

UNLESS YOU NEED...

UNLESS YOU NEED...

UNLESS YOU NEED...

ELASTIC WAVE

U LT R A S C A N C D

ULTRASCAN CD

Gas or Liquid Line

TRANSCAN

Gas Line
EMATSCAN CD

Liquid Line

Pre-1970 ERW
Seam weld faults
Dents with Cracking

TRANSCAN
UNLESS YOU NEED...

Detection of Shallow Cracks

Detection of Short Cracks
Detection of Narrow Cracks
Inspection of
High Pressure Line
Detection but not sizing of large SCC Colonies*
Detection of Surface
Breaking Laminations

For the detection of HIC we recommend using UltraScan WM

* Please see TranScan panel

Sizing of Critical /
Subcritical Cracks

UltraScan CD

Special strengths
SCC colonies
Sub-critical SCC
Fatigue, weld-toe and

shrinkage cracks

Circumferential and

girth weld cracks

Longitudinal weld

lack-of-fusion and
hook cracks

Axial laps

Tr a n S c a n

Special strengths
Pre-1970 ERW seam

welds hook cracks,

lack of fusion
Seam weld defects
Narrow Axial

Corrosion

Dents and gouges

with associated
cracking
Preferential seam

weld corrosion
Axial laps

Elastic Wave

Special strengths
Large SCC

Hook cracks

Longitudinal fatigue

Axial laps

cracks and toe cracks

Detect and manage even subcritical cracks in liquid pipelines

PIIs UltraScan CD inspection tool was designed for high precision location of
SCC even it its subcritical stage. It has been used to successfully inspect more than
7,000 km of pipeline around the world, enabling operators to establish effective
programs for the mitigation and management of the risk associated with the
presence of SCC in its earliest stages. The tool uses the 45 shear-wave inspection
technique to detect cracks regardless of their width from hairline cracks to wide
opening cracks. It is so sensitive it can reliably detect cracks, scratches and grooves
as short as 30 mm and as shallow as 1 mm,
and has accurately reported defects of half that
depth. For some pipeline diameters, UltraScan
CD can even detect circumferential cracking.
UltraScan CD must be coupled to the pipe
steel by a liquid medium, making it the tool of
choice for oil, refined products and other liquid
lines. Since its introduction, UltraScan CDs
range of sizes has been continuously expanded.
It is currently available in sizes from 16 to 34
inches, with 10-14 inch tools soon to follow.

Detect seam weld defects, axial flaws and third party damage
The innovative TranScan inspection tool detects long, narrow defects that run parallel to
the axis of the pipeline. TranScan uses well-proven MFL technology but unlike MagneScan,
the magnetic field is induced around the circumference of the pipe instead of along its length.
This ensures that axial flaws (cracks and elongated metal loss) present their largest dimension
to the magnetic flow, creating a strong signal from flaws that have previously been invisible to
MagneScan tools.
TranScan tools are very robust and equally at home in gas or oil pipelines. They can inspect
up to 4 m/s and tolerate dirt and wax in the pipeline. They have even been used to detect
flaws in seam welds as narrow as 0.1 mm. TranScan has become the tool of choice for the
detection of hook cracks and lack of fusion in pre-1970
ERW pipe. Their sensitivity to dents, associated
cracking and/or metal loss also make them ideal for
the detection and classification of third party damage.
Since its introduction in 1998, TranScan has been
used to inspect over 12,000 km of pipeline. It is
available in all diameters from 8 to 30 inches, and up
to a maximum diameter of 48 inches.
*Note re. tool selector: Tools based on Transverse
Field technology have been used to detect large SCC
colonies, however for accurate classification and sizing
we recommend PII's Ultrasonic tools.

First generation crack detection in gas pipelines

PII broke new ground when it introduced the first tool capable of locating and
measuring Long Seam Fatigue Cracking, SCC, lack of fusion in the long seam, hook
cracks and shrinkage cracks. Since its intial introduction in the 1980s, Elastic Wave
technology underwent continous evolution and was further refined in its performance.
To detect even fine axial cracks, the Elastic Wave tool injects pulses of ultrasound
into the pipe wall at a 65 angle. When a pulse encounters a crack or other defect in
the pipe wall it is reflected, and the echo is picked up by transducers. To better
pinpoint anomalies, both clockwise and counterclockwise measurements are carried out.
Since the transducers are contained in fluidfilled wheels which contact the inside surface of
the pipe it performs equally well in gas or liquid
filled pipelines. Inspections can be carried out
at tool speeds of up to 3 m/s; by using a speed
control unit even higher line speeds (up to 8 m/s)
can be maintained.
The Elastic Wave Tool is available in sizes
from 24 to 36 inches.

EmatScan CD

NE

Innovative new tool for managing cracking in

gas lines

W
!

The high resolution EmatScan CD tool is available for the detection

of cracking in gas pipelines, with no need for liquid batching.
EmatScan CD is the first completely successful application of Electro
Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) technology to the special demands
of the pipeline environment. Its ability to detect even sub-critical SCC gives
operators the advance warning needed to initiate effective SCC management
programs, without the costs and loss of production
associated with hydrostatic testing.
It also detects and measures other forms of
longitudinal cracking, including fatigue cracks,
toe cracks, hook cracks, long cracks in or along
the seam and lack of fusion cracks.
The introduction of EmatScan CD is another
significant step forward in pipeline inspection,
continuing PIIs tradition of leading through
innovation and deploying ground breaking in-line
inspection technology to the pipeline industry.

Special strengths
SCC colonies

Hook cracks

Sub-critical SCC

Cracks in or along the

seam

Longitudinal fatigue

cracks, toe cracks

Lack of fusion cracks

Operating Specifications

UltraScan CD

EmatScan CD

Elastic Wave

TranScan

Media

Liquid

Gas

Liquid & Gas

Liquid & Gas

Maximum Pressure

100 bar

190 bar

70 bar

220 bar

Max. Speed

1 m/s

2 m/s

3 m/s

4.0 m/s

Min. Speed

0.1 m/s

0.1 m/s

0.1 m/s

0.2 m/s

-10C 60C

-10C 60C

0C 50C

0C 60C

3D

3D

3D

3D

5mm to 22mm

9mm to 16mm

6mm to 16mm

5mm to 25.4mm

Min./Max. Temperature
Min. Bend Radius
Min./Max. Wall Thickness

Inspection Specifications
Min. Detectable Crack Width
Detectable Crack Length
Min. Detectable Crack Depth

c a s e

Long

Short
0.0mm

0.0mm

0.0mm

30mm

30mm

> 50mm

25-50 mm

>50mm

1mm

1mm

25%

50%

25%

0.1mm

h i s t o r y :

UltraScan CD: A better way to manage SCC

The Rainbow pipeline, operated by Mobil
Oil Canada, carries crude oil from NW
Alberta to Edmonton. Early in 1993 a
rupture occurred in the 300-km long, 24-in
diameter southern section of the pipeline.
A second rupture occurred a few months
later. The company voluntarily reduced the
MAOP of this section, significantly reducing
its earning capabilities.
To gain a better understanding of the
nature and progress of SCC, Mobil immediately started a series of excavations to
look for SCC and to gather pertinent data.
Remediation work was carried out, including
complete replacement of 44 km of pipe.
A fracture mechanics based model was

developed to quantify the future integrity

of the pipeline, and a hydrostatic test was
used to confirm the validity of the model.
Late in 1994 the original MAOP was
restored and the pipeline was back to
normal operation, with the prospect of
regular hydrotesting to confirm its integrity.
In 1996 Mobil contracted with PII to
inspect for cracks using the recently
introduced UltraScan CD tool. Subsequent
excavation confirmed that all defect locations and lengths were predicted accurately.
Not all were SCC a few were axial
corrosion with sharp edges, others were
mid-wall anomalies. With one exception all
61 incidents of SCC were within or below

the predicted depth range.

UltraScan CD brought new assurance to
the Rainbow pipeline integrity management
program. Whereas before 382 excavations
revealed only 25 significant occurrences of
SCC, with guidance from UltraScan 72
excavations revealed 61 instances of SCC.
Best of all, the ability of UltraScan CD to
spot even sub-critical SCC means that
hydrotesting is no longer necessary to
confirm the ability of the pipeline to operate
at full MAOP.

PII Pipeline Solutions:

Stress Corrosion Cracks Single: Single cracks grow at the steel

Totally focused on pipeline integrity

grain boundaries in the presence of stress,

coating damage (soil plus moisture),
temperature etc,.

BEST SOLUTIONS: All our work is based on complete

understanding of the science of pipeline integrity and the special needs
of pipeline operators. No other pipeline inspection company offers
more more technology, more experience, more effective solutions.

Stress Corrosion Cracks Colonies: Single cracks grow in length

and coalesce with others to produce much
longer, wider cracks. Parallel cracks begin
to develop.

TOTAL SERVICE: A successful inspection is just the beginning.

Whatever else it takes to ensure continuing pipeline integrity is

Fatigue/Toe Cracks:

available through PII. Fitness for Purpose assessments, fracture

Long, very tight cracks develop at the toe

of the weld under the action of pressure
cycling from within the pipe.

mechanics assessments, SCC mitigation programs the list is endless.

UNMATCHED EXPERIENCE: For over a quarter of a

century PII has contributed to the success of the pipeline industry,

Shrinkage Cracks:

with more pipelines inspected than any other supplier. Even in the

Crack produced during manufacture due

to rapid cooling of the pipe after welding.

specialized and relatively recent discipline of crack detection, PII

has inspected and analyzed over 17,000 km of pipe.

GLOBAL PRESENCE: Seventeen operational bases

Hook Cracks:

around the world deliver advisory, technical and support services 24

Manufacturing defects found in pre-1970

ERW pipe and A.O.Smith Flashweld pipe.

hours a day. You can be sure that PII will be there when you need us,
represented by people who understand your operating conditions.

TOP PEOPLE:

The best and brightest engineers, managers

and technicians in the world of pipeline integrity choose to work

with PII. We provide opportunities for them to excel; they respond

Lack of fusion:
Poor control of welding process causing a
lack of fusion on the weld centreline

with innovative thinking, quality work, and a deep concern for the
success of every project.

Dents with cracking:

ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW:

World leaders in data

interpretation. A PII inspection yields better data because the tool is

Mechanical damage to pipe causes denting

and localised work hardening that later
results in cracking.

always well matched to the task at hand. But the end-purpose of a

pipeline inspection is not merely to provide reliable data, its to provide
trustworthy answers to an operators concerns and a solid foundation

Hydrogen Induced cracking HIC:

for a long term integrity program. Our uniquely qualified analysts,

High H 2 S content in the pipeline product

causes hydrogen migration in the steel that
results in cracking parallel to the pipe surface.

unmatched archive of sample anomalies, and powerful computer

programs turn data into knowledge.

PII Pipeline Solutions Global Offices

Headquarters
Atley Way, Cramlington,
Northumberland NE23 1WW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 191 247 3200
Fax: +44 191 247 3101
Western Europe and Africa
Atley Way, Cramlington
Northumberland NE23 1WW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44-191-247-3200
Fax: +44-191-247-3101
North America
7105 Business Park Drive,
Houston, TX 77041 USA
Tel: +1 713-849-6300
Fax: +1 713-937-0740
Central Europe and CIS
Lorenzstrasse 10
D-76297 Stutensee-Blankenloch
Germany
Tel: +49-7244-732-0
Fax: +49-7244-732-123

Middle East
Building No. 29
Oilfields Supply Center Ltd
PO box 1518 Jebel Ali,Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Tel: 971 0 4883 7982
Fax: 971 0 4883 8929
South America
Dr. Mariano Moreno 4476
B1605 BOF - Munro
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel: 5411-4721-4700
Fax: 5411-4721-4701
Asia Pacific
Unit 3A06, block G
Phileo Damansara 1
Jalan 16/11, Off Jalan Damansara
Seksyen 16
46350 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Malaysia
Tel: 603 7958 1828
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 Systems,
Oil and Gas global network of sales and service offices.

www.gepower.com/PII
info.geoil&gas@np.ge.com

Elastic Wave, EmatScan CD, MagneScan, TranScan and UltraScan CD

are trademarks of PII Group Limited.
2002 General Electric Company. All Rights Reserved.