Direct Assessment/Unpiggable

Comprehensive Range of Services

GE wants to be your single-stop shop for assisting in the integrity management of all your unpiggable pipelines. Our fully equipped engineering and field-service portfolio delivers leading-edge solutions that address unpiggable pipeline threats (e.g., corrosion, cracks and mechanical damage).

To support this wide range of services, we work with clients to deliver the level of responsibility they are comfortable with. If desired, we will provide a complete "Unpiggable" Turnkey solution, including project management of sub-contractors involved with related activities such as cleaning, NDE, hot tapping and repairs.

Solutions

In-Line Inspection (ILI)

We have developed innovative and best-cost methods including a new hot-tap entry and exit procedure, enhanced bend-passing capabilities, video inspection and pre-inspection systems.

Direct Assessment (DA)

Our integrated External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA) and Internal Corrosion Direct Assessment (ICDA) services apply extensive modeling and statistical algorithms, rigorous region definition and data integration that reduce project cycle time and achieve confidence levels approaching those of our in-line inspections. In addition, our years of experience in SCC detection and modeling can further enhance your DA program when used in a coordinated fashion through which improved DA effectiveness levels are achieved.

Retrofit and Integrated Remediation

Our engineers have extensive experience retrofitting pipelines with the traditional launchers and receivers necessary to accommodate in-line inspection. For post inspection remediation we offer a full range of repair best practices and installation assistance.

Hydrostatic Testing

We offer hydrostatic testing when viable as part of a comprehensive engineering solution.

Challenges

One-third (540,000km) of the world's pipelines are considered unpiggable for various reasons such as valve restrictions, multi diameter designs, impassable fittings and a multitude of other configuration issues.

Legislative changes have also raised the priority in maintaining the integrity of these pipelines on a regular basis. Regulations require that pipeline Integrity assessments be conducted by In-Line Inspection, Hydrostatic Testing or Direct Assessment. The pros and cons of each alternative vary depending on a pipeline's particular situation.

  • In-line Inspection (ILI) attains, by far, the best results, but traditional methods are inhibited if there are no launchers or receivers, if narrow-radius fittings, valve obstructions or multi-diameter pipes are involved, or if service interruptions are not possible because of cost or critical customer impact.
  • Even though direct assessment can be considered as a logical alternative, it can be prohibited by road and water obstructions. In addition, some vendors' inexperience can result in unexpectedly high excavation costs and low statistical reliability.
  • Hydrostatic testing typically involves the most costly service interruptions and the least descriptive data for future planning. Supplemental inspection methods are also necessary for complete threat analysis.
  • Retrofitting full-bore, single diameter pipelines to perform ILI should not be overlooked as a viable option, especially for smaller line sizes and segments that do not have supply constraints.

All these challenges are compounded by the evolving regulatory pressures, which put increasing demands on pipeline operators.

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