Applications of relative calibration of crack and corrosion ILI data

摘要

IN-LINE INSPECTION (ILI) tools are periodically employed for pipeline inspections using two types of technologies: magnetic flux leakage (MFL) and ultrasonic (UT). These tools assist in detecting, sizing, and locating corrosion, crack, and deformation features. The ILI performance is usually evaluated based on trending field measurements and ILI data (unity plot). Enbridge as a leader of industry in applying innovative processes and technologies in pipeline threat management has conducted work on developing methodologies to improve the uncertainty quantification of tools' measurement. This work brings an opportunity for both pipeline operators and ILI vendors to include the uncertainty of both ILI and field measurements and calibrate ILI results. The calibrated ILI data can potentially impact integrity mitigation programs in terms of increasing the safety of the pipeline or reducing unnecessary integrity actions. This can directly influence the number of digs predicted based on a calibrated ILI program. Last but not least, the probability of failure (PoF) of the line can be potentially affected by the calibrated dataset if the tool performance was under-calling or over-calling and calibration corrects this.