Pipeline In-Line Inspection Enhancement Opportunities

Pipeline in-line inspections (ILI) are one of the primary methods used to assess the integrity of operating oil and gas pipelines. These inspections can be complicated to conduct due to a variety of reasons ranging from operational limits (high/low flow velocity, wall thickness, pipeline extreme depth or pressure, etc.) to limits inherent to the inspection technology. Often these complexities are overcome with tools customized to a specific pipeline. Although this has been effective for singular pipeline inspections, a more industry-wide approach should be considered to develop broader solutions. This paper discusses the opportunities to enhance ILI and suggests a ranking of priorities for technology development.