Objective To design, construct and test an internal inspection system ( "intelligent pig") capable of carrying out and advanced monitoring of internal and external conditions of an offshore pipeline.The main requisites of the system are the following :- to be used for onshore and offshore pipelines- to record pipe data and position in a uniform and reliable way- to be able to adapt to significant range of diameter and to pipe local deformations.- to be able to record and process local images in a specified position along the pipe.- to be able to detect, at any point of the route, if the pipe is buried or if there is a free span. In general to be able to define the pipe/sea-bottom configuration. To evaluate the condition of the cathodic protection system.- to be able to carry out the inspection without obstructing fluid transportation through the pipeline.The feasibility of a pig based on the principle of neutron radiation followed by gamma spectrographic analysis has been examined and the mechanical solution was to be abandoned. As some prototype tests of a device wholly similar to this nuclear pig were carried out by another company, the whole project was abandoned.The project includes the following phases :- Basic project :. conceptual design of the system. Definition and chacterization of all the inspection functions to be carried outBasic design of the pig positioning system.- Development in critical areas : In the phase every critical aspect which appears in the first phase will be closely examined. At this end of this phase there is an important project check point.The conclusion could be that it is not feasible to proceed to the other phases because the unresolved difficulties would lead to a pig similar to existing commercial ones.A second conclusion, more positive than the previous one,would follow if the main problems in critical areas are solved : in this case the output of the phase would be the final basic cofiguration of the system.- Detailed design : detailed design, construction drawings and diagrams will be prepared. A detailed plan of laboratory and field tests will also be prepared. Programme(s) ENG-HYDROCARB 2C - Programme (EEC) of support for technological development in the hydrocarbons sector, 1986-1989 Topic(s) 1.8 - PIPELINES Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinator SNAMPROGETTI SPA EU contribution No data Address Viale Alcide De Gasperi 16 20097 SAN DONATO MILANESE Italy See on map Total cost No data
