This paper covers a case study performed on 10-inch diameter steel pipelines in an urban environment to detect and locate coating anomalies (such as holidays and disbondment) with a novel technique and methodology. A survey tool and theoretical framework have been introduced, and the practical feasibility of wielding reflectometry of electromagnetic waves in buried steel pipelines to assess coating condition was trialed. The authors were able to model different reflectometry signatures obtained from different coating conditions. Differential Reflectometry Mapping (DRM) methods were found to be able to detect coating defects, including coating delaminations; and to accurately locate those defects at a distance of 1500 ft. This presents a clear progress for current state of the art capabilities in terms of remote coating assessment in buried pipelines while detecting disbondment conditions. DRM permits a unique improvement regarding integrity management for transmission and distribution of liquid assets.

Subject
Holidays, Coatings, Piping, Voltage, Conductors, Impedance, Pipelines, Transmission lines, Reflection, Below ground pipelines, Coating defects, Holiday detection, Delamination
Keywords:
Corrosion, Pipeline, Detection, Buried, Coating, Holiday, Delamination, Insulation, Reflectometry
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2022
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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