MFL external pipe wall scanning

Precisely measures individual, not average, internal and external corrosion by external inspection.

smart-CAT™ utilizes a high resolution, non-destructive, non-intrusive technology that identifies and sizes pipe wall corrosion defects. The assessment process includes the precise measurement of remaining wall thickness, predicting the likelihood of failure, current condition and remaining life of the pipe. Plus for uninspected regions, predictions can be made using statistical or structural analysis techniques of the current, and future growth, of defects and failure models.

The patented smart-CAT™ tool is a highly specialised technology used to specifically identify and size individual defects, providing detailed information on the integrity by using Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL).

MFL is a high resolution technology in a form of electromagnetic testing used on ferrous pipes that detects defects by sensing the change in magnetic flux through the pipe wall. The smart-CAT™ uses high flux leakage based on the Intelligent Pig Technology to obtain comprehensive defect data. Unlike other technologies, the smart-CAT™ inspects the external pipe wall while a pipeline is fully operational and identifies, accurately locates and sizes internal and external individual corrosion defects.

The smart-CAT™ inspection process is very fast and accurate and includes coating inspection, general wall thickness inspection using ultrasonics, detailed external and internal corrosion defect inspections using MFL, combined on site and laboratory soil analysis.

smart-CAT™ is designed for easy and safe operations in potentially difficult pipeline locations which is why it’s used extensively to assess operationally critical sections of pipeline such as those in tunnels, and to assess long pipelines with specific pipeline sections. The combined expertise of the smart-CAT™ process is over many years and thousands of sites.

• Includes ultrasonic assessment
• Can include coating assessment
• Can be applied over a paint coating
• Detects internal and external corrosion
• Can include site and laboratory soil analysis
• Pipelines include water, sewerage, gas and oil
• Materials assessed include cast iron, ductile iron, mild steel and wrought iron

• Can potentially be used to identify through wall, or near through wall, defects on site
• Combined expertise from over a thousand inspection activities, including critical mains
• Can be used to assess risk through experience and apply procedures by assessing likelihood and consequence to determine numeric risk outputs including safety, environmental and economical

• Can use the targeted inspection results and combine with statistical and structural analysis for definition of failure modes, derivation of time scales, prediction of likelihood of failure, and current condition including remaining life at the inspection location, and uninspected lengths