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Thickness and Flaw Inspection Solutions
Applications

Complete Girth Weld Inspection System

The PipeWIZARD iX girth weld inspection system is built for demanding and extreme conditions, from cold subarctic regions to hot deserts. Detecting defects including lack of fusion, incomplete penetration, porosity, burn through, undercut, hi-low, crack, cold lap, inclusion, etc. the PipeWIZARD iX system adapts to all circumferential weld configurations:

Any weld profile type, including J-bevel, V-bevel, double V, X, etc.

Pipe wall thicknesses typically from 6 mm (0.25 in.) to more than 35 mm (1.4 in.); options are available for thicker pipes.

Pipe diameters from 168 mm (6.625 in.) to 1524 mm (60 in.).

Pipe materials from standard carbon-steel to more complex configurations, including Inconel, and cladded pipe.

Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AUT)

For pipeline girth weld inspection, automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) is the replacement of choice for traditional radiography.

Some clear advantages of AUT over radiography:

  • No radiation risks for personnel, no chemicals, or environmental concerns
  • Comparatively short inspection cycle time enabling high productivity
  • Better detection and sizing accuracy, leading to lower rejection rates
  • Satisfies Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) acceptance criteria with measurement of vertical height and depth of indications
  • Real-time analysis from smart output display
  • Data and inspection reports
  • No licensing required

Multitechnology Inspection Capabilities

Leverage the versatile advanced phased array and conventional ultrasonic technology of the PipeWIZARD iX system:

  • Zone discrimination―each zone, approximately equal to a welding pass, is inspected individually with a PA pulse-echo or pitch-catch technique, enabling full coverage of the bevel area and the volume of the weld with accurate flaw sizing.
  • Time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD)―used to confirm indications seen on the strip chart or to improve detection and sizing on small or misoriented indications.
  • Phased array (PA)― conventional PA techniques, such as sectorial, linear, or compound scans, can be used as complementary methods or to inspect weld configurations where zone discrimination is not optimal.
  • Conventional UT―for detecting transverse flaws in a pitch-catch configuration, measuring wall thickness, inspecting the upper area of the weld with creeping waves, etc.
  • Total focusing method (TFM) compatible―the powerful QuickScan iX PA data acquisition instrument is capable of supporting the complex firing patterns required for advanced techniques such as TFM.

Code Compliance for Girth Weld AUT Inspections

Confidently validate girth welds according to international standards and regulations governing both the offshore and onshore pipeline industry. The PipeWIZARD iX system enables you to perform AUT inspections that comply with the following codes:

  • ASTM E-1961 code (covering key elements of AUT of girth welds, including zone discrimination, rapid data interpretation, specialized calibration blocks, and configuration procedures) 
  • API 1104 standard (by inference)
  • DNV-OS-F101 standard (the offshore AUT code)

When your company’s specifications demand it, you can increase the accuracy of your flaw sizing and achieve a level of resolution that exceeds these code requirements.  

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