EMAT Sensor for Small Diameter and Unpiggable Pipes

Under Development

Quest Integrated, Inc. (QI2) More »

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

Threats and Integrity Management -- Anomaly Detection and Characterization

The project is co-funded by PHMSA and OTD to develop a device which can be pulled via an umbilical through pipe samples and uses Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) to detect and quantify longitudinal cracks. A laboratory bench-scale unit has been successfully completed and tested in Phase-1. The work tasks in this proposal build on the results from Phase-1 and includes building a prototype of the unit with the data management system and a pull-out mechanism for internal testing of pipe sections with controlled and natural cracks and flaws.

The technology is applicable as a non-contact system which can run in dry and wet pipe environments. It can also be used to identify pipe wall thickness and estimate metal loss. The initial prototype runs in 8-inch pipes with a commercial target to test 6 to 12 inch unpiggable pipes.

Increased Safety - The technology can potentially detect cracks and defections. The increase of the reliability of crack detection increases pipes safety and reduces the potential of increased inspection frequency.

https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=653