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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: