The Feasibility of Using the MFL Technique to Detect and Characterize Mechanical Damage in Pipelines

摘要

Mechanical damage is the single largest cause of pipeline failures for gas transmission pipelines and a leading cause of failures for liquid pipelines today. Outside forces (usually construction equipment) can deform the natural cylindrical shape of a pipeline, scrape away metal and coating, and/or stress and cold work the steel changing its microstructure and altering its mechanical properties. Both the geometric deformation and the amount of residual stress, plastic deformation and cold working contribute to the severity of the defect. Having an NDE in-line inspection (ILI) technique for both detection and characterization of mechanical damage defects is important.