Pipeline chemical cleaning before an ILI: when is it really needed?

摘要

IT IS COMMON PRACTICE for pipeline operators to be advised on the requirement to chemically clean their pipeline in preparation for an Ultrasonic (UT) inline inspection. This requirement is to ensure the internal pipe surface is free of debris and deposits that may prevent accurate identification and sizing of both internal and external defects. Typically, pipeline chemical cleaning programs call for more equipment and materials than regular mechanical cleaning, are more expensive and requires certain operating conditions be met for optimal results. To avoid contamination and disruption to normal pipeline operations, a good understanding and control of the chemicals being used is vital to the proper recovery and separation of the chemical batch.