In-line Inspection (ILI) involves the evaluation of pipes and pipelines using “smart pigs” (both tethered and non-tethered) that utilize non-destructive examination techniques to detect and size internal damage. ILI measures and records irregularities in pipelines including corrosion, cracks, deformations, or other defects.

ILI is a common practice throughout the oil and gas industry and has proven invaluable for examining extensive pipelines. It makes inspecting the condition of long stretches of pipelines, a task that used to be incredibly expensive and time consuming, far more easy and economical.

There are several different types of smart pigs utilized in ILI activities, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some are more effective at detecting certain types of corrosion or damage in different types of pipes, depending on their NDE capabilities. More recently though, some manufacturers are combining the various functions of these separate tools into one. This way a single tool can now be used to detect several different types of damage, making it more efficient and effective.

MOG provides a variety of ILI technologies, tools, and services, including inspections for:

Comprehensive threat assessment

  • Multiple Dataset (MDS) platform combines individual ILI technologies on a single inspection device for unmatched comprehensive threat assessment.

Cracks and crack-like anomalies

  • SpirALL® magnetic flux leakage (SMFL) efficiently detects crack-like defects in the pipe wall and long seams – including selective seam weld corrosion, hook cracks, lack-of-fusion, and surface-breaking laminations.
  • SpirALL® Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) technology finds cracks that magnetic flux leakage-based technology is unable to detect, such as stress corrosion cracking, toe cracks, and cracks in dents.

Corrosion and metal loss

  • Magnetic flux leakage (MFL), typically utilized in liquid pipelines, provides reliable detection and sizing of volumetric features. Combining MFL with other technologies – for example, mapping and geometry – minimizes the number of tool runs.
  • Low field magnetic flux leakage (LFM) identifies permeability changes resulting from manufacture, milling, or mechanical working.
  • Gas magnetic flux leakage (GMFL) provides reliable detection and sizing of volumetric features in natural gas pipelines. Combining GMFL with other technologies – including mapping and geometry, for example – minimizes the number of tool runs.

Dents and other anomalies

  • Deformation (DEF) detects minute bore changes in pipeline internal diameter, including dents, ovalities, wrinkles, expansions, and misalignments.
  • KALIPER® 360 (K360) for the new construction environment, makes the pipeline bore validation process quicker and more cost-effective, accurately detecting dents and ovalities.

Additional ILI technologies improve pipeline mapping and produce precise data in certain high flow pipelines:

  • XYZ navigation pairs global positioning system (GPS) coordinates at above-ground locations with highly accurate inertial mapping for a detailed map of key pipeline features, as well as bending strain.
  • Active speed control technology allows reliable inspections without natural gas flow reduction.

We’ve also made it easier than ever for you to review and navigate ILI data:

Interactive Report software provides quick, user-friendly access to results.