VerticalCanPumpCasingInspection - Sonomatic Can Pump Casing... · VerticalCanPumpCasingInspection...
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Vertical Can Pump Casing Inspection Vertical can pumps are commonly used to pump hydrocarbon liquids, and with onshore facilities the pump casing is often installed below ground level. External coatings are typically applied before installation, but they can break down through long-term use and the casing exterior is then potentially exposed to ground water. External corrosion has been observed on a number of pumps and should be considered as a potential threat to integrity. Internal corrosion should, depending on the fluids being pumped, also be considered as a potential degradation mechanism. Pump casings can fail by corrosion leading to release of hydrocarbons with severe safety, environmental and business consequences. Assurance of integrity of pump casings relies on inspection with techniques that provide a high probability of detection for both internal and external wall loss associated with corrosion. Sonomatic has offices in strategic global locations so we can respond quickly to customersʼ requirements wherever they may be situated. Our high quality products are matched only by our customer service. In addition to our field services, we offer training and consultancy at our sites in the UK or at clientsʼ premises anywhere in the world. Sonomatic is committed to improving asset performance through applied and innovative technology; to delivering these benefits to our customers in the products and services that we provide; and to working with our customers, as value-added partners, to realise the maximum benefits of inspection technology. [email protected] www.sonomatic.com
Transcript of VerticalCanPumpCasingInspection - Sonomatic Can Pump Casing... · VerticalCanPumpCasingInspection...
Vertical Can Pump Casing Inspection
Vertical canpumpsarecommonlyused topumphydrocarbon liquids, andwithonshore facilities thepumpcasing isoften installedbelowground level.
External coatingsare typically appliedbefore installation,but theycanbreakdownthrough long-termuseandthecasingexterior is thenpotentiallyexposed togroundwater. External corrosionhasbeenobservedonanumberofpumpsandshouldbeconsideredasapotential threat to integrity. Internalcorrosionshould,dependingonthe fluidsbeingpumped, alsobeconsideredasapotentialdegradationmechanism.Pumpcasingscan fail bycorrosion leading to releaseofhydrocarbonswith severe safety,environmental andbusinessconsequences. Assuranceof integrityofpumpcasings relieson inspectionwith techniques thatprovideahighprobabilityofdetection forboth internal andexternalwall lossassociatedwithcorrosion.
Sonomatic has offices in strategic global locations so we can respond quickly to customersʼ requirements whereverthey may be situated. Our high quality products are matched only by our customer service. In addition to our fieldservices, we offer training and consultancy at our sites in the UK or at clientsʼ premises anywhere in the world.Sonomatic is committed to improving asset performance through applied and innovative technology; to deliveringthese benefits to our customers in the products and services that we provide; and to working with our customers, asvalue-added partners, to realise the maximum benefits of inspection technology.
[email protected] www.sonomatic.com
The inspection involves liftingandremoving thepumpdrivemotoranddischargebarrel toexposethe interiorof thecasing.Thecasing is then filledwithwaterbefore thescanner is attachedto thepumpmotormounting flange, as shown inFigure1.
Theultrasonic inspection then takesplacewiththeprobes immersed inwater, using transducersdesigned for subseadeployment.The inspectionemploys twotechniques:
• 0degreeultrasonic corrosionmapping forareasofpipe/plate
• TimeofFlightDiffraction (TOFD) forwelds.
Corrosionmapping is carriedout initiallyona fineincrement, typically1mmin thecircumferentialdirectionand4mmin the longitudinal (vertical)direction.Thedata isprovided in the formofacolour-graphiccorrosionmapwhichallowsevidenceofwall loss tobe readily identified.Areasof localisedwall loss canbe investigated furtheratanevensmaller scan increment–a1mmby1mmincrementwould typicallybeused foradditional investigation toquantifyareasofdegradation. Figure2showsacorrosionmap (atstandard resolution) collected fromapumpcasing
QA and HS&E
It is Sonomatic’songoingcommitment to supply servicesandproducts, throughtheapplicationof technical andengineeringexcellence,whichcomplementboth thecustomer’s andourownQAandHS&E requirements.
Sonomatic’s commitment toquality ismaintained throughcontinuousassessmentandreviewofourQualityManagementSystems toBSENISO9001:2008.Sonomaticactivelypromotes thedevelopment, implementationand improvementofourQMSasapartofourongoingdrive toenhancecustomer satisfactionbymeetingorexceedingcustomer requirements. In2009SonomaticachievedUKASaccreditationasan InspectionBody toBSEN ISO/IEC17020(UKAS IB4276).
Figure 1 - Scannerdeployment schematic.
with localisedexternal corrosion. Figure3showsahigh resolutionscanoverareasofpitting.
TimeofFlightDiffraction isused to inspect thewelds.This is a twinprobe techniqueallowing theminimumthickness in theweld tobedeterminedaccurately.Theultrasonicdata is collectedat1mmintervals along the lengthofeachweld toprovideanaccuratedefinitionof thewall thicknessprofile.TypicalTOFDdataoverapumpcasingweldwithexternal corrosion is shown inFigure4.
The inspectionapproachdevelopedallows100%coverageof thepumpcasingcylinder, fromtheendcapweld to themounting flangeweld, andalsoallows100%inspectionof theweldsbyTOFD.The inspectionsystemis suitable forawide rangeofpumpcasingsizes, theonly restrictionbeingthat thediameter shouldbe>4ins.
Wheredegradation is found,Sonomatic canassistwitha fitness for serviceand lifeassessmentbasedondetailedanalysisof thedatacollected.Sonomatic canalso recommendapproaches tomonitoring futurecorrosionandprovideadviceoncorrosionmanagement.
Fig 4. TOFD data overexternal corrosion
Access to theexteriorof thecasing for inspection isnotpossiblewithbelowground installations, and theheightof typical casings, togetherwith limitedaccessibility,means thatautomatedsystemsarenecessary.Sonomatichasdevelopedandprovenanautomatedultrasonic inspectionapproachspecifically forVerticalCanPumpCasings.Thisusespurpose-built scanners,withSonomatic’s establishedNautilusautomated inspectionsystemproviding thedrivecontrol for accuratedeploymentof theultrasonicprobehead toany locationwithin thepumpcasing. Sonomatic’sMicroplus systemsareused forultrasonicdatacollection,presentationandanalysis.
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Figure 2 - StandardResolution Corrosion Mapover pump casing.
Figure 3 - Additional corrosion map collected athigh resolution over an area of pitting.
