Pipeline & Piping Inspection & Maintenance

A five-day in-depth course on the practical aspects of piping and pipeline integrity, maintenance and repair. Participants will be introduced to the technical basis of the ASME and API integrity rules, and their application to case studies and exercises. The participants will be able to recognize causes of degradation in-service, whether mechanically induced (pressure, vibration, fatigue, pressure transients, external damage) or due to corrosion (wall thinning, pitting, cracking), and apply integrity analysis techniques to make run-or-repair decisions. The participants will become knowledgeable in the technical basis and application of ASME B31.3, B31.4 and B31.8 piping codes, ASME B31G and API 579 Fitness-for-Service and Flaw Evaluation. The participants will review inspection techniques, from the most common (PT, MT, UT, RT, MFL pigs) to most recent (AE, PED, UT pigs and multi pigs), and the use of hydrotesting for integrity assessment and the implementation of integrity management programs, periodic inspections and evaluation of results. The course will review the various repair techniques, their advantages and shortcomings, and the logic to be followed in making repair decisions and selecting the applicable repair.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the delegates will be able to:

• Provide a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of utility and in-line inspection pigging
• Implement the standard procedure of piping and pigging during operation, maintenance and construction
• Practice in-line inspection tools with performance, theory and detection limits
• Design and implement an in-line inspection using ILI tool and specific design
• Discuss post in-line inspection issues and observe regulatory requirements for developing protocols and response

The course content will be fully illustrated with actual pigs and models being used to aid understanding and help overcome any language difficulties. Comprehensive course notes will be provided which will form a valuable source of reference afterwards.

Who Should Attend?

The course is especially designed for project managers, engineers, maintenance and technical personnel responsible for pipeline integrity assurance, flow assurance, corrosion control, and safety.

Course Outline

Day 1
Piping for Operation and Maintenance

• Pigging during construction
• Pigging during operation
• Utility Pigs
• Cleaning pigs
• Sealing pigs
• Gauging pigs
• Dual diameter pigs
• Magnetic cleaning pigs
• Designing a Pipeline for Pigging
• Pig traps and pigging stations
• Location and tracking devices

Day 2
In-Line Inspection (ILI) Tools – Theory, Performance, and Detection Limits

• Metal loss In-line Inspection
• Other In-Line Inspection Tools
• Crack detection pigs
• Mapping
• Geometry and bend-detection pigs
• Wax deposition measurement
• Spanning pigs
• Semi-intelligent pigs

Day 3
Designing and Implementing an In-Line Inspection (ILI) Program

• Selecting an ILI Tool
• Specific Design Considerations for Running ILI Tools
• Launch and Receive trap design
• Bends, tees, and valves
• Issuing an Inquiry
• Schedule requirements

Day 4
Preparation for Ili

• Controlling Operational Parameters During the Inspection Run
• Strategy for Contract Development and Negotiations
• Developing a good specification
• Contingency Planning for a Stuck Pig
• Offshore risers
• Onshore flowlines, gathering system main sections or laterals

Post In-Line Inspection Issues
Quality Assurance Check of the Data
Development of Protocols for Response
Prioritization of the Dig Plan

• US regulatory requirements
• Criteria for corrosion-caused metal loss
• Criteria for dents

Day 5
Validation of Results

• Planning and preparation for field NDE
• Comparison between ILI, field NDE and actual:
• Corrosion
• Dents - effects of re-rounding
• Establish level of confidence

Fitness for Purpose: Assessment

• Assessment of defects
• Establish long-term integrity management program
• Incorporation of results in risk programs
• Potential Repair Consideration

Course Methodology

A variety of methodologies will be used during the course that includes:

• (30%) Based on Case Studies
• (30%) Techniques
• (30%) Role Play
• (10%) Concepts
• Pre-test and Post-test
• Variety of Learning Methods
• Lectures
• Case Studies and Self Questionaires
• Group Work
• Discussion
• Presentation

Course Fees

This rate includes participant’s manual, Hand-Outs, buffet lunch, coffee/tea on arrival, morning & afternoon of each day.

Course Timings

Daily Course Timings
08:00 - 08:20 Morning Coffee / Tea
08:20 - 10:00 First Session
10:00 - 10:20 Coffee / Tea / Snacks
10:20 - 12:20 Second Session
12:20 - 13:30 Lunch Break & Prayer Break
13:30 - 15:00 Last Session