www.eni.it steps towards low-risk pipeline inspection alberto di lullo flow assurance engineering...
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www.eni.it
Steps towards low-risk pipeline inspection
Alberto Di LulloFlow Assurance Engineering Technologies Manager
e-splora™: eni Systems for Pipeline Low Risk Assessment Detect major restrictions before pigging
Detect and localize ID changesHelp planning/following cleaning operations
Detect and localize pipe deformations (“caliper”)and estimate inner wall roughness
Measure pipeline thickness(basic MFL functionality)
Smart Foam Pigs – Objectives
Ready
Ready
Fieldtested
Patented
Objective:
Mitigate the risk inherent in pigging by transforming low-risk pigs into information-gathering tools
Pigging “Roadmap”
Line never inspected e-splora + cleaning if appropriate, ILI
e-splora™ – eni Systems for Pipeline Low Risk Assessment
Tool name Features Status
PRIMEFLO
Non invasivedetection and localizationof obstructions/restrictions
in single phase lines
PatentedRoutinely used
SFP/SPPSmart Foam/Polly Pig
Presence and localizationof internal deposits
PatentedRoutinely used
SkeSPSkeleton Smart Pig
No removal of liquidsfrom gas lines
PatentedUnder final redesign
CaliSPCaliper Smart Pig
Pipe deformations
Signs of internal corrosion
PatentedPrototype Field testedUnder final redesign
Smart Foam Pig – Risk mitigation
Foam/Polly Pigs normally pose very low risk due to:
Negligible/reduced capability to displace solids
Foam pigs can negotiate restricted pipeline regions
If blocked, can be broken by small/limited pressure differences
Even foam pigs may be risky or pose operational problems
Possible presence of almost complete restrictions PRIMEFLO
Possible displacement of huge amounts of liquids SkeSP
Tiny sensors with memoryand battery embedded
in plastic containers
Prototype of “emergency” payloadin a container suitable to travel by itself
to the pig receiver
Smart Foam Pig – Sensor installation
Smart Foam Pig – Sensor installation
Sensors installedwith plastic holdersscrewed in the pig
Bigger sensorwith 3-axial
accelerometer
Sensors simplyinserted in the pigby drilling a small
hole
Distance [m]
Flow Direction
Example – 16” Oil pipeline – Pigging of the last 170 km section
Wafa-Mellitah 16" Oil line
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
0 50'000 100'000 150'000 200'000 250'000 300'000 350'000 400'000 450'000 500'000 550'000
Distance from Wafa [m]
Ele
vatio
n P
rofil
e [m
]
Elevation profile Block valves Pig stations ID changes
ID = 385.8 mmTh = 10.3 mm
ID = 382.6 mmTh = 11.9 mm
ID = 371.4 mmTh = 17.5 mm
Direction of flow
348000m 501800m
Pigged section169km
0 50 000 100 000 150 000
1
0
1
2
3
4
D istan ce m
P
bar P across P ig 2
Presence of deposits
Isolation Valves
Inner Diameter Change
Peaks due to Valves
ΔP across Pig
ΔP
[b
ar]
Distance [m]
Example – Measured ΔP across pig and pipeline profile
Delta P across the pig
190 000 190 050 190 100 190 150 190 2000 .0
0 .2
0 .4
0 .6
0 .8
1 .0
Tim e s
P
bar P across P ig 2
Peaks due to single welds
12m
ΔP across Pig
ΔP
[b
ar]
Timeline [s]
Example – Measured ΔP across pig – Zoom
Delta P across the pig
1 0 00 0 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 01 5 .0
1 5 .5
1 6 .0
1 6 .5
1 7 .0
Time
Pre
ssu
re
Temporary stop on an old pipeline repair
Pre
ssu
re
[bara
]
Timeline [s]
Example – 10” gas line – Measured P behind pig
P at rear of the pig
Caliper androughness
transducers(several thousands
samples/s)
The new version is improved
in several ways to
minimize operational risks
and increase performance
CaliSP – Caliper and Roughness estimation
Acquisition system in a plastic container
Caliper androughness
transducers(several thousands
samples/s)
The pig is lightweight and is pushed by the gas.The liquids remain in the line because the pig is “open”
SkeSP – Gas lines with big liquid accumulations
The technology is the same as the Smart Caliper
Pig
Start 24000 72000 96000
Number of repeated oscillations
Caliper arms response to repeated deformation
Reduce pig risk by detecting major restrictions (PRIMEFLO)
Acquire information since the first pigging operations
As much as possible, reduce operational impact:
Avoid problems in successive pigging operations
Reduce arrival of liquids at the receiving plant
Notes:
Routinely applied / under field test / under final design
Generally, good acceptance from operators
Patented
e-splora™ – Conclusions
eni proprietary toolbox to minimize pigging risk: