1.

0 Executive Summary
These indicative cost rates are issued in response to an enquiry from FADFAE for PEC
inspection of insulated / concrete coated subsea pipeline offshore Nigeria; and for
inspection of a subsea pipeline using the MEC-Combi PipeCrawler offshore Nigeria.

As opined, based on the pipeline technical data received in the meanwhile, we

recommend utilising the MEC-Combi Crawler instead of the Subsea PECT tool. The
MEC-Combi Crawler can detect local defects and enables fast scanning of the
pipeline sections of interest.

2.0 Technical Overview

2.1 PECT (Pulsed Eddy Current Technology)

PECT (Pulsed Eddy Current Technology) is a static Non-Destructive Testing

technique and permits the measurement of the average remaining wall thickness on
the defined inspection area. The dimension of this area (footprint) depends from the
distance between the probe and the steel pipe: typically, it is a circle of 50 to 110mm
diameter. In this case we envisage to keep the footprint to 50mm diameter.

A full scan around the pipe can be performed to obtain the complete
corrosion/erosion mapping of each area inspected. It allows the relative wall
thickness measurement through coatings up to 250mm. The inspection is carried out
from the outside of the pipe, avoiding any shutdown of the production and removal of
any kind of cover around the steel pipe.

PECT is a comparator and measures thickness variations on the same object.

Fig. 1: Probe during the measurement on the coated pipe

The limitation of the technique is that the measurement is static. The sensor(s) shall
be kept in the same position while measuring. Although the tool will be set up for high
resolution inspection it is not sensitive to small volumetric or isolated defects.

The Subsea PECT machine includes an array of eight (8) PECT sensors to enhance
inspection speed and efficiency. The eight PECT sensors are displaced in
circumferential direction after having taken a measurement. After having completed
the entire circumference for one axial position, the scanner moves the sensor carrier
into the next axial position.
2.2 MEC-Combi PipeCrawler
The MEC-Combi PipeCrawler is a sophisticated self-crawling scanner that supports
the inspection and lifetime assessment of smaller diameter subsea assets like pipes,
risers and caissons ranging from 6” to 18”.
The MEC-Combi PipeCrawler is based on the fast corrosion mapping Magnetic Eddy
Current (MEC) technique which is the next generation and further development of the
Saturation Low Frequency Eddy Current technique.
The MEC technique operates on High Frequency Magnetic Field Controlled Eddy
Current and uses specifically developed Eddy Current sensors able to generate a
higher density Eddy Current field for increased defect detection sensitivity.
Defect detection is achieved by superimposing direct current magnetisation with an Eddy
Current field. The penetration in depth of the pipe material is increased to such an extent
that internal defects such as corrosion, pitting and cracks can be detected from the
external surface. It is particularly sensitive in the detection of pitting corrosion.

By controlling the magnetic field strength and combining it with higher operating
frequencies, the MEC technique can detect defects at higher wall thickness and
stand-off (coating) range. With an improved signal to noise ratio, the MEC technique
has proven to can inspect through fire protective coating for defects beneath.
The MEC-Combi PipeCrawler enables supporting inspection techniques such as high
resolution Ultrasonic for absolute wall thickness mapping, Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) for
average wall thickness mapping, laser triangulation system for geometry scan, high
definition camera system for visual inspection, Eddy Current crack detection system, etc.
to be added to provide a total and customised inspection solution.

An advanced integrated cleaning system can also be incorporated for a simultaneous

cleaning and inspection operation. Deployed by ROV from a support vessel or by
divers, the MEC-Combi PipeCrawler has a hydraulically powered wheel set to enable
the inspection of the subsea assets in both axial and circumferential direction. The in-
built encoder system allows tracking the location of the MEC-Combi PipeCrawler on
the inspection surface.

Data acquisition is displayed as separate external and internal bitmaps indicating wall
loss conditions in 10% steps. Individual defects will be further analysed to provide
more accurate details on size and depths and will be documented in the final report.

Figure 1 and 2 – MEC-Combi PipeCrawler on different subsea pipeline inspection jobs