Recent advances in External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA) methodologies have restored confidence in pipeline operators who rely on this approach to assess the integrity of their pipeline assets. This is partially because of improvements in ECDA technologies to integrate multiple inspection techniques into one integrated pipeline inspection technique that ensures improvement in reliability while reducing the time and cost to collect data, and to process, analyze and report inspection results. It is now possible to accurately pinpoint direct examination locations and confidently predict the outcome of direct examination digs with comprehensive analysis of indirect inspection data even before excavation.

These advances have also led to improvements in the interpretation of indirect inspection data such that direct examination locations are accurately selected to pinpoint and address locations at which external corrosion activity has occurred, is occurring, or may occur. Successfully identifying regions for excavation is vital as it substantially reduces costs by avoiding unnecessary digs and downtime due to potential failures. This is a significant benefit to diligent pipeline operators wanting to justify every budget to avoid exploring suspicious indicator while ensuring that every possible measure is taken to improve pipeline integrity and preserve the pipeline asset.

This paper will show how precise selection of direct examination location can reduce unnecessary and costly excavations for pipeline operators while making sure that most susceptible locations are addressed to prevent future wall loss from external corrosion. Presentation of data from integrated indirect inspection techniques and proven case studies confirming how the use of ECDA approach can confidently predict the outcome of direct examination will be presented. In addition, statistical analysis drawn from recent projects, that compare the predicted and outcome of several ECDA digs and lesson learnt will be presented to strongly demonstrate improvements in ECDA methodologies.

Subject
Indirect inspection, External corrosion direct assessment, Pipeline operations, Coatings, Cathodic protection, Pipeline integrity management, Pipelines, Soil resistivity, Coating damage, AC voltage gradient, Anomalies, External corrosion, Instant off potential
Keywords:
ECDA, Direct Examination, Dig Selection, Cathodic Protection, ACVG, DCVG, ACCA, Cathodic Protection, Soil Resistivity, Indirect Inspection
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2019
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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