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New technology for inspecting critical in‐plant piping systems
Author(s) -
Widrig James R.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
process safety progress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.378
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1547-5913
pISSN - 1066-8527
DOI - 10.1002/prs.10477
Subject(s) - piping , pigging , pipeline transport , engineering , process (computing) , process plant , forensic engineering , nondestructive testing , reliability engineering , construction engineering , risk analysis (engineering) , computer science , mechanical engineering , medicine , radiology , operating system
Abstract Inspection and fitness‐for‐service (FFS) of critical in‐plant piping systems remains an ongoing concern for the chemical industry. Recent failures in the US indicate that there is a present and severe risk in piping systems. Historically, unpiggable in‐plant piping can now be inspected with advanced smart pigging technology for complete ultrasonic inspection. High‐resolution inspection data is analyzed to identify the locations and degree of corrosion and piping deformations. This article discusses current industry experience with the inspection and assessment of in‐plant piping systems using advanced smart pigging technology. Utilizing more advanced inline inspection and assessment technology helps operators reduce inspection costs associated with difficult‐to‐inspect pipelines and piping systems; reduce maintenance costs by more accurately pinpointing anomalies and assessing FFS conditions; and accurately determine the actual conditions for lines previously deemed unpiggable. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2011