Intelligent Pig is a pigging tool that is used for the inspection process on pipeline using various instrumentation and sensors that are inserted into the pipeline to detect, measure, record the size and position of pipeline anomalies or damage, for example, internal or external corrosion, dents, cracks, welds or differences thickness and so on. Then the data will be recorded and can be analyzed by engineers and technicians, to determine the integrity of the pipeline and report the condition of the pipeline.
[a] One of the Intelligent Pig inspection technologies on steel (ferrous) pipes is to use Magnetic Flux Leakages or MFL, [b] Example of MFL Recoded Data
This technology uses a metal brush to connect a permanent magnet to the pipe wall to magnetize the pipe wall due to the flow of magnetic flux to the pipe wall which will move from the north pole to the south pole of the magnet.
When there is an anomaly or inhomogeneity in the pipe wall, it will cause interference with the flow of the magnetic flux. Then the sensor will measure and find out the pattern of the magnetic flux disturbance. From this, the anomaly or inhom ogeneity in the pipe walls both externally and internally can be searched, detected, characterized, and measured. And the odometer will be recorded where is the anomaly located in the pipeline
The MFL Intelligent Pig can be operated by gas or by liquid, so it can be used for both gas pipeline systems and liquids pipelines system.
Application :
Pipeline inline inspection, to detect internal and external anomalies on the pipeline applicable for both gas pipeline system and liquids pipelines system
Benefit :
- Accurate and precise anomaly or feature classification
- The tool measures depth, width, length, and orientation of the anomalies
- High sampling rates
