ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the context of pipeline corrosion management (PCM), inspection consists of a series of steps and actions including data gathering, analysis and management. For any newly constructed pipeline, some operating companies may recommend to undertake a baseline inspection during or soon after commissioning. Risk-based inspection uses the findings from a formal risk analysis, such as a Corrosion Risk Assessment, to guide the direction and emphasis of inspection planning and the physical inspection procedures. The preferred method of inspection for piggable pipelines is in line inspection (ILI), also known as intelligent pigging. One of the key challenges in interpreting inspection data is to extrapolate defect propagation from one inspection to another. This is particularly the case for ILI data where the sensitivity of the tools may be as much as several per cent of wall thickness. Verification of ILI data should be carried out with inspection measurements from outside the pipe to confirm defect sizing accuracy of the tool.
