Introduction of Pulsed Eddy Current Inspection

Oilfield Products & Inspection Method

OCTG (80-85% of Oilfield Products)

Casing – used as a retainer wall for oil and gas wells
Production Tubing – transports oil and gas from wells to the
surface
Couplings – connections used to join individual sections of
casing and tubing together
Custom Finishing – premium threading, heat treating, 80-85% OCTG
upsetting, storage & inspection
LINE PIPE (15-20% of Oilfield Products)
15-20% Line Pipe
Used in the gathering and transmission of oil and natural gas
from the wellhead to larger transmission lines and refineries.
What is OCTG?

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) exist in a few

different varieties. The manufacturing plant will produce
all of the varieties of Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

Types are :
OCTG Casing - Plain End
Specification table for OCTG Casing - Plain End
OCTG Casing - Threaded and Coupled
OCTG OCTG Tubing - Plain End
Line Pipe
OCTG Tubing - Threaded and Coupled
INSPECTION METHOD FOR OCTG

INSPECTION METHOD
PULSED EDDY CURRENT

ACCOUSTIC EMISSION TESTING

 What is Pulsed Eddy Current Inspection ?

Pulsed eddy current (PEC) is an advanced

electromagnetic inspection technology used in detecting
flaws and corrosion in ferrous materials typically hidden
under layers of coating, fireproofing, or insulation.
 How does it work ?

A magnetic field is created by an electrical current Pulsed eddy current can be used:
in the coil of a probe. When the probe is placed on 1. On outer surfaces with or without insulation
the insulation, fireproofing, or coating, the field or aluminum, stainless and galvanized
penetrates through all the layers (including steel weather jacket, blistering scabs, or
sheeting, if present) and stabilizes in the fireproofing
component thickness, and then the electrical 2. Near pipe elbows, supports, valves, and
current in the transmission coil is turned off, other metallic structures such as nozzles,
causing a sudden drop in the magnetic field. and flanges
3. Through concrete, polymer coatings,
metallic mesh, and rebars
As a result of electromagnetic induction, eddy
currents appear in the component wall. The eddy
currents diffuse inward and decrease in strength.
The decrease in eddy currents is monitored by the
PEC probe and used to determine the wall
thickness. The thicker the wall, the longer it
takes for the eddy currents to decay to zero.
 How does it work ? (continued)

To analyze transient eddy currents, pulsed eddy current comprises three phases:
1. Emission (Pulse) :
The probes injects a magnetic field penetrating and stabilizing in the component wall.

2. Cutt Off:
The probe interrupts emission abruptly and strong eddy currents are induced in the component wall.
 How does it work ? (continued)

3. Reception :
The sensors in the probe measure the decay rate of eddy currents as they diffuse inside the
component wall
 How Pulsed Eddy Currents Evaluate Thickness ?

The eddy current decay rate in a conductive material under insulation and cladding follows a power law,
where a relative change in voltage results in a proportional relative change in time and produces a rapid
drop in a Log-Lin scale graph. Later on, as the eddy currents reach through to the other side of the
component, their decay rate follows an inverse exponential distribution that produces a straight line in a
Log-Lin scale graph.
 How Pulsed Eddy Currents Evaluate Thickness ?

Where V is the voltage, t represents time, and τ is the decay rate. Different wall thicknesses generate
different decay rate curves:
 How Pulsed Eddy Currents Evaluate Thickness ?

The illustration when the probe running to the inspected object:

 How Pulsed Eddy Currents Evaluate Thickness ?

The thickness appears as percentages (no defect found)

 How Pulsed Eddy Currents Evaluate Thickness ?

The thickness appears as percentages (thickness decreasing - defect found) 78%

(Thickness is decreasing since initial corrosion

Path)
 How Pulsed Eddy Currents Evaluate Thickness ?

The thickness appears as percentages (thickness decreasing - defect found) 43%

(the worse corrosion path-lowest % defect)

 How Pulsed Eddy Currents Evaluate Thickness ?

The thickness appears as percentages (thickness increasing - defect found) 59%

(The thickness is increasing due to move from

corrosion path)
 How Pulsed Eddy Currents Evaluate Thickness ?

The thickness appears as percentages (thickness increasing – no defect found) 99.9%

(No Corrosion Founded)

What is Accoustic Emission Testing?

Acoustic Emission (AE) Analysis is an extremely

powerful technology of non-destructive testing
 What is Accoustic Emission Testing?

Acoustic Emission (AE) refers to the generation of

transient elastic waves produced by a sudden
redistribution of stress in a material.

When a structure is subjected to an external stimulus

(change in pressure, load, or temperature), localized
sources trigger the release of energy, in the form of
stress waves, which propagate to the surface and are
recorded by sensors
 Accoustic Emission Testing Method

Scheme of the test stand and layout of AE sensors and the map of damage on the coating of the pipeline
section (specimen)
 Accoustic Emission Testing Method

General view of the test stand with the pipeline section (a) and example corrosion damage (b, c)
 Accoustic Emission Testing Method

Acoustic emission testing can be performed in the field with portable instruments or in a stationary laboratory
setting. Typically, systems contain a sensor, preamplifier, filter, and amplifier, along with measurement, display, and
storage equipment (e.g. oscilloscopes, voltmeters, and personal computers). Acoustic emission sensors respond
to dynamic motion that is caused by an AE event
Accoustic Emission Testing Method

In order for point location to be justified, signals

must be detected in a minimum number of
sensors: two for linear, three for planar, four for
volumetric. Accurate arrival times must also be
available. Arrival times are often found by using
peak amplitude or the first threshold crossing. The
velocity of wave propagation and exact position of
the sensors are necessary criteria as well.
Equations can then be derived using sensor array
geometry or more complex algebra to locate more
specific points of interest.
Accoustic Emission Testing Method