Crack Detection

Our Tools Can Locate Almost Any Defect

A crack may be almost invisible to the eye, but it can weaken a pipeline sufficiently to cause catastrophic failure. For this reason, we have concentrated our efforts on finding solutions to the problem of identifying, locating and monitoring the many types of crack that can compromise pipeline integrity.

The types of crack most likely to develop in operating pipelines are stress corrosion cracks (SCC), fatigue cracks, hydrogen-induced cracks and sulfide corrosion cracks. They can occur in the base material of the pipe, in welds and in the heat-affected zone adjacent to welds. Cracks can also appear in substandard axial and girth welds, and can occur in conjunction with other flaws such as dents, gouges and corrosion.

Tools for Crack Detection

UltraScan™ CD
  • The most accurate and reliable technology for all types of longitudinal cracks, including SCC
  • Detects cracks as shallow as 1 mm in depth and 30 mm in length
  • Reliably detects individual cracks less than 0.1 mm wide
UltraScan™ Duo
  • Phased Array Technology
  • Greater data resolution and accuracy
  • Pioneering two-in-one capability
EmatScan™ CD
  • Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) technology
  • Detecting and measuring a full range of cracking defects in gas pipelines
  • No liquid medium required for inspection
Elastic Wave™
  • Appropriate technology for nearly all types of longitudinal cracking in liquid and gas pipelines
  • Detects cracks deeper than 25 percent of wall thickness and 50 mm in length
  • Detects individual cracks less than 0.1 mm wide
TranScan™
  • Appropriate technology to detect seam weld cracking and/or combinations of mechanical damage and cracking in liquid and gas pipelines
  • Detects cracks deeper than 25 percent of wall thickness and 50 mm in length
  • Detects individual cracks wider than 0.1 mm
UltraScan™ WM
  • Reliably detects HIC and other mid-wall crack-like defects
  • Prime mission is metal loss inspection; not originally designed as a crack detection tool

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Tool Selection


Type of Flaw
UltraScan™ CD
UltraScan™ Duo
EmatScan™ CD
Elastic Wave Vehicle
TranScan™
UltraScan™ WM
Small SCC
***
***
**
**
Large SCC
***
***
***
***
**
Longitudinal Fatigue Cracks, Toe Cracks
***
***
***
***
*
Hook Cracks
***
***
***
***
***
Long Weld Shrinkage Cracks
***
***
***
***
*
Lack of Fusion Cracks
***
***
***
***
***
Axial Laps
**
**
**
**
**
***
Dents with Cracking and/or Metal Loss
*
*
***
Axial Gouging and Cracking
**
**
**
**
**
Narrow Axial Corrosion
*
*
***
**
Hydrogen Induced Cracking
**
Circumferential Cracks
**
**
Girth Weld Cracks
**
**
Analysis
Feature Discrimination
***
***
*
*
**
***
Length Sizing
***
***
**
**
**
***
Depth Sizing
**
**
*
*
*
*
Medium
Gas
****
****
****
Liquid
****
****
****
****
****
Velocity
*
**
**
**
***
*