Interpreting and managing ILI data at the click of a Data at the touch of a button.pdf · ... such as B31G, B31G Modified, DNV Recommended Practice (RP) F101b. Once the integrity

Associated Technology Pipeline Ltd, 3b Mansfield Business Park, Lymington Bottom Road, Medstead, Hampshire, GU34 5PZ, UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 1420 565 601 | www.atp.co.uk | E: [email protected]

PiMSlider Software

The PiMSlider software from

Associated Technology

Pipeline Ltd is one of the

most powerful PIMS software

solutions on the market. Our

software . . .

Is an off-the-shelf software

solution developed

specifically for pipeline

experts.

Is a suite of integrated

modules that can process

any pipeline, population and

or environmental-related

information in an integrated

way for all phases of the

pipeline integrity

management process.

Has highly specialised

modules which can integrate

data from any sources

available to a pipeline

operator, such as PODS,

APDM, GIS, SAP, Maximo or

any other proprietary

database

Can implement local, federal

and state standards which

your company may uses as

part of your its integrity

processes.

You can have access to a

working system at the

beginning of the project and

try it before you buy.

Interpreting and managing ILI data at the click of a button

One of the most important objectives of any pipeline operator is the preservation and licence to operate a safe and reliable pipeline system. Without the right information or tools to process information, a company cannot make sound strategic decisions on the state of any part of their pipeline network. Whether it comes down to designing maintenance schemes and inspection strategies, or demonstrating the integrity of the grid, IT systems form a vital part of the overall management of the network to provide auditable results. In this article we look at how engineers can use a pipeline integrity management software tool, such as software offered by Associated Technology Pipeline Ltd – called PiMSlider (and in particular the In-Line Inspection Expert module) - to interpret and manage vast amounts of data in order to manage the everyday activities related to pipeline integrity.

For key decisions to be made effectively, the gathering and

interpreting of large amounts of correct data becomes an

important task.



The best way to resolve this problem is to transfer client data to a single uniform relational database. Storing and analysing pipeline data in a single source can be achieved by connecting different sources of data into a consistent and clearly defined format.

With this information available, the operator can analyse the relationship between the different data, and make appropriate decisions when proposing pipeline inspections, repair plans and further preventative measures.

Inspection Management Today, In-Line Inspection (ILI) vendors provide inspections in a report that contains a list of all "features" which have been encountered in the course of the ILI tool “run”. One of the main features of the PiMSlider In-line Inspection Expert module is the ability to upload these reports (commonly known as a Pipe Tally report) into the PiMSlider database. As ILI vendors can provide the data in different file formats, the ILI Expert module is equipped with a flexible mechanism for describing different templates allowing engineers or integrity specialists to upload almost any spread sheet of any structure - whether the report is in CSV, MS Excel or even MS Access format. To ensure the data can be used correctly in the software (and features utilised to their full potential), it is advisable to keep to a certain classification of "features”, such as “Anomaly”, “Corrosion”, and “Dent”. For example, one of the ILI Expert CSV upload formats/templates conforms to the POF 3.2 data format (Pipeline Operator Forum), a standard commonly used for inline inspections. Although not mandatory, it is desirable that all inspections in a particular system use the same specification. Using templates allows an expert to easily upload any ILI report from any vendor into the

PiMSlider database without the help of the software designer or IT specialist. The database stores pipeline stationing (construction) data (depending when and how the Client has organised this linear data). During the ILI data upload process, the log distance of “features” (logged during the inline inspection process) is uploaded into the database. The challenge is then to align the uploaded log distances from the new ILI report, with the existing pipeline stationing data. The ILI Expert provides the appropriate tools (automated, manual or a combination of both) to align these points – resulting in the ILI inspection “features” being connected to the correct, or very close, points along the pipeline. Additionally, the software can automatically calculate the coordinates of all defects even if they were not provided in the report.

Data Linking System

The result of this data linking process is that the anomalies/cracks/dents found as part of the inline inspection can now be physically located at the correct point along the pipeline.

Feature Analysis Another major feature of the ILI Expert module is to be able to analyse in-line inspections in some considerable detail. With each reported



defect, the user can determine whether the defect is dangerous on its own, how close the defect is to other defects, how the proximity of the defect can affect the integrity of the pipe at that location, and how far girth and longitudinal welds are from the defect. All of these (and many other) issues will be extremely important for the integrity engineer. By using the Browse Anomalies function of the ILI Expert module, integrity engineers can conveniently visualize and analyse every aspect related to the defects, their danger, as well as calculating safe and burst pressures and different methods of repairs. Along with visualising defects, it is possible to show any repairs that are either already completed or planned, as well as casings and other parts of the pipeline system found by the ILI tool and which may be of interest during defect analysis. The ILI Expert module also allows the user to calculate a variety of strength characteristics for pipelines with defects. Additionally, the user can create calculation algorithms and embed them into the software. The PiMSlider ILI Expert off-the-shelf module is delivered with pre-configured algorithms for corrosion defects based on industry standards, such as B31G, B31G Modified, DNV Recommended Practice (RP) F101b. Once the integrity engineer has finished analysing inline inspection defects, there may be a need to perform certain actions, such as repairs or further research. The engineer can automatically create a set of documents in order to carry out, for example, excavations. These documents contain all the information required for the field engineers performing the excavation, including the co-ordinates of the defect, its exact clock position on the pipe, the distance to the down-stream and up-stream markers and valves, and the angular position of

the longitudinal welds for targeted and neighbouring joints. This allows engineers to find the exact location of excavation and be able to identify the defects to be repaired.

Feature Analysis

Run Comparison Pipelines can be inspected by ILI methods at different times during the life of the pipeline. This means that for the same pipeline, it is likely that not one but multiple sets of defects are detected at different times, possibly by different inspection companies. It is also likely that the inspections carried out at different times by different companies describe the same defects. It therefore becomes very interesting for the integrity engineer to be able to track the development of these defects over time. Despite its apparent simplicity, the task of comparing pig runs is not entirely straightforward. When we know the parameters of the defect now and the parameters five years ago, it is not difficult to calculate how much it may have "grown". The challenge is to be able to identify the anomalies found in the previous run and the anomalies found in the latest run are actually describing the same defect. Considering that the number of anomalies found in a pig run report can reach into the millions for both runs, the task of "run comparison" becomes close to impossible by manual analysis. Integrity experts can still undertake this kind of analysis with the help of readily available tools (such as MS Excel) but the



quality and results of the work could raise some doubts. The PiMSlider ILI Expert module provides a comprehensive set of inline inspection run comparison features. What would normally be weeks of manual labour comparing runs, can now be replaced by the touch of a button as the software will automatically find all the matching (and non-matching) defects between the two pig runs. It is then possible to automatically generate reports which include compared and non-compared defects, a list of the omitted or newly discovered joints, and the statistical corrosion rate over the entire length of the pipeline with the calculation of average values and the mean distribution.

Run Comparisons

Defect Growth

Repair Planning Whilst the PiMSlider ILI Expert module is a great tool for analysing and documenting the results of in-line inspections, the next logical step is to generate a detailed action plan, in order to address the threats to the integrity of the pipeline based on the results of inline inspection data analysis. A generated plan can include two kinds of repair: (i) an urgent repair and (ii) the need for an additional examination of the defect (including non-destructive inspection methods – such as NDT). The ILI Expert module includes a complete set of tools for assigning, storing, reporting and analysing NDT data. The module also allows you to compare NDT data with in-line inspection data. Having analysed in-line inspection and non-destructive testing data, the integrity engineer can use the software to assign a repair by selecting the type from the set of available repair types used in their organisation. The software allows the user to further expand and enhance the list of repair types, providing further configurability. The ILI Expert module can also automatically assign repairs to a set of selected defects according to company policy. The defect selection criteria and repair assignment algorithms are fully customizable and can be created or enhanced by integrity experts, without the involvement of IT personnel or software developers. A detailed set of documents for excavations and repairs (Excavation Packages) are automatically generated at the same time as repair assignment. After the repair is assigned, information about the repair can be sent to the company’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system (such as SAP, MAXIMO) or any other system used to



organize the business processes involved with physically repairing the pipeline in the field. The ILI Expert allows the user to track the progress of the repair implementation and its current status.

Dig Up Sheet

Conclusion Being able to analyse reports generated from inline inspections – integrated with other key pipeline data required for PiMS, in order to make key decisions regarding the safe upkeep of a pipeline network - is becoming an increasingly important part of the pipeline integrity process. The best integrity software should provide integrity engineers with the right tools to work quickly with high volumes of data, and to be able to make the right decisions regarding the on-going maintenance of the pipeline.

PiMSlider®

Developed by Associated Technology Pipeline (ATP) Ltd, PiMSlider® software is suite of integrated modules to support the entire pipeline integrity management process. PiMSlider® is an off-the-shelf software solution, having been developed over a number of years, and installed in many clients around the world. The software includes all the advantages described above, but it also contains a large number of configurable tools that make the

software solution truly unique. These tools allow the pipeline operator to further adjust the functionality to meet very specific needs.

The PiMSlider® offering allows operators to adopt a working system at the beginning of the project, and not just at the end (like conventional software projects). There are many advantages of doing it this way:

The client gets access to a working system that is used today in the market, very early in the project (the same software base will be delivered)

The client and ATP can start educating the user base with the philosophies and ideologies of using PiMSlider® software – often a small culture change when accepting new software

The client gets access to a feature rich software application that will meet a very high percentage of requirements. In addition, the client will get access to a range of features not previously considered during the internal client activities of data and feature gathering

The client’s user base gets access to a real working system, with real client data very early in the project, to help the various levels of the company to see a lot of data from many different sources (GIS, ERPs, Inline Inspections, Cathodic Protection, Survey data, Document Management Systems) – all visible from a single integrated software system.

As this working PiMSlider® system is the same software that is currently in use in the market today, the Testing Phases would focus more on the feature-availability, rather than the stability of the system.

For more information about ATP and PiMSlider® Software please contact the Marketing Dept.

Tel: +44 (0)1420 565 601 or E: [email protected]

Documents

Interpreting and managing ILI data at the click of a Data at the touch of a button.pdf · ... such as B31G, B31G Modified, DNV Recommended Practice (RP) F101b. Once the integrity