Tracerco launches subsea flowline inspection technology

LONDON -- Tracerco has launched a new product that enables oil companies to quickly scan many kilometers of pipeline to detect the location of deposits causing flow assurance issues.

The technology, known as Explorer, is able to screen subsea pipelines for content and deposit build-up at typical speeds of up to 100 m per hour, meaning many kilometers of pipeline can be surveyed per day. Operators now have a convenient solution to the industry-wide problem of not being able to detect and locate blockages in subsea pipelines, which can be many kilometers in length.

Explorer has been developed for use in conjunction with OTC Spotlight on New Technology 2015 winner, Discovery, the breakthrough in pipeline inspection that gives a detailed high resolution CT scan of subsea pipelines, distinguishing between wax, hydrate, asphaltene or scale deposition at density differences of 0.05g/cc. Both devices work without the need to remove the pipe coating material. Once Explorer has located the area of the suspected blockage, Discovery can be deployed to accurately characterize its precise nature.

“Accurately detecting the location of blockages caused by a build-up of deposits is an on-going issue for the oil industry. Having listened to the needs of our customers, we are delighted to be able to launch Explorer—a speedy and innovative low-risk solution," Lee Robins, head of Subsea Services at Tracerco, said. 

As with Discovery, Explorer is non-intrusive, scanning content from outside of the pipeline. There is no need to remove protective coatings or interrupt production to carry out the inspection, making it a cost-effective solution to flow assurance problems.

Explorer can operate at depths of up to 3,000 m and can cover pipe diameters from 2 in. to 60 in. It has the ability to screen a variety of different piping systems: standard rigid pipe (coated or uncoated), pipe-in-pipe, bundle systems and flexibles.

Explorer detects the location of deposit build-ups by measuring the density profile of the pipeline and then analyzing any detected anomalies. An abnormal density, in relation to the material flowing in the line, indicates a build-up of deposit. The tool provides a detailed profile showing mean densities of pipeline contents and amounts of deposit based on assumed densities. It has already been used on several subsea flowlines including a project in the North Sea, as well as a campaign in the Gulf of Mexico.