Seam weld identification

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Gas Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 July 2016

01 November 2017

16 months

£109,000

Information Technologies

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Gas Transmission

The aim of this project is to investigate if additional inspection technologies (techniques, tools or guidelines) exist, or can be developed that National Grid engineers or inspectors could implement on site to enable identification of the ERW/HFW bond line and its position around the pipe circumference. The deliverable will be guidance document that can be introduced to the National Grid quality management system either as a stand-alone procedure or as part of an existing specification.

The inspection, assessment and repair of damaged pipelines are performed in accordance with the National Grid procedure T/PM/P/11. A critical stage of the assessment process is to determine whether any damage identified during inspection is coincident with the weld or heat affected zone (HAZ). This requires the positive identification of the girth weld and, if it is welded pipe, the seam welds. A further issue is that for modification work on AGI (Above Ground Installation) sites it is necessary to identify the position of the seam weld in order to achieve seam weld offset in adjacent pipe lengths and also to avoid locating attachments onto the seam weld. This programme will investigate potential methods / techniques for identifying the position of seam welds in high frequency resistance welded (HFW) or electrical resistance welded (ERW) pipe. The programme will be conducted as a set of specific stages, each building to the respective milestone. The final output will be guidance document that can be introduced to the National Grid quality management system either as a stand-alone procedure or as part of an existing specification. Each stage is summarised below: Stage 1 - Review of potential technologies (tools, techniques, guidance)The aim of the review of potential technologies is to identify existing techniques; tools or guidelines that could be used to locate an ERW/HFI bond line. The review will include a literature survey to identify if there is any information available in the public domain. The review of any potential technologies will as a minimum, consider the following aspects: Experience required by the inspector Effectiveness of the technique Cost Access required Ergonomics Resources required Accuracy Limitations of the application Environmental aspects Suitability for on-site use Other key aspects that will also be included within this stage are: Visual Characterisation Weld seam location Thickness Measurements Shape analysis Metallographic identification Alternative technologies Milestone 1. 1 - Identification of the potential technique(s) that can be used. Milestone 1. 2 - Technical review report. Stage 2 - Development of a draft procedure or guidance document Once potential techniques have been identified, a draft procedure/guidance document(s) will be developed. The aim is to develop a document that can be used as a guide during the validation trials. The procedure/guidance document(s) will define which methods will be used and how they should be applied in practice. The aim is set out a step by step guide that operators could use during the assessment. This report will be subject to further review following the feedback from the validation trials. Milestone 2. 1 - Issue of a draft procedure/guidance document covering each technique identified as meriting further investigation / assessment. Stage 3 - Validation trials Pipe from available National Grid stocks will be assessed, along with pipe from other sources of ERW/HFW pipe (such pipe manufacturers, test houses, and local stockists). Milestone 3. 1 - Completion of validation trails on stock pipe Milestone 3. 2 - Review of the validation trial results Stage 4 Reporting A final technical report will be issued to National Grid documenting the results from each stage and presenting the conclusions and any further recommendations. This report will incorporate the review report completed for Stage 1. The draft procedure will be optimised based on the resultsof the validation programme and a final inspection procedure included in the final report. Milestone 4. 1 - Technical review report and justification of suitable technology. Milestone 4. 2 - Final issue of the procedure/guidance document. CC1 June 2017: Delays in delivery of Milestones 1 & 2 due to availability of project lead and issues obtaining pipe samples have lead to a change control request of 6 months. The new timelines will enable the supplier to source necessary pipe samples, book the inspection kit required and ensure availability of the project lead for the remaining milestones.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

11/12/18