To see FAQs about the SSM technology click here.
1. Have you actually performed this task on an active, in-service pipeline? If so, can you provide a list of the actual pipe diameters, wall thicknesses, product type, operating pressures and client names?
2. Do you have certain safety limitations such as minimum wall thickness or operating pressures?
5. What level of smoothness is required? Is wire brush OK?
6. Do you have a process for calibrating your equipment?
7. Will clock orientation affect results? Is there a best orientation?
8. Any external air, water or power needed or is it all battery powered?
1. Have you actually performed this task on an active, in-service pipeline? If so, can you provide a list of the actual pipe diameters, wall thicknesses, product type, operating pressures and client names? We have been conducting in-service testing since 2000 for several companies including Shell Global Solutions, Shell Pipeline Company, Praxair, Pacific Energy, ConocoPhillips, Vectren Utilities, EPCO, ANR Pipeline Company, and EDF (France). The pipeline diameters varied from 8” to 60” (we tested storage tanks with diameters of 220 feet); wall thickness varied from approximately 0.18” to 0.3”. top
2. Do you have certain safety limitations such as minimum wall thickness or operating pressures? The technique is applicable to pipelines with diameters varying from 4” and up, and with wall thickness greater than 0.1”. Product types include natural gas and various liquids. The ABI technique is independent of the operating pressure. top
3. How many indentations would you need to perform on a single piece of pipe to feel that you had a good data sample? Each indentation of the ABI test provides complete results equivalent to those from destructive tensile and fracture toughness tests. We usually conduct three to five ABI tests at each location to have a good statistical sample and to account for material variability. Although API 5L specifies testing one tensile specimen from each heat of steel, one value of yield or tensile strength does not provide an acceptable statistical sample and certainly does not provide any information of the homogeneity/variability of the steel material. The ABI technique is highly accurate and can discern variations as little as 0.5 ksi and has a higher repeatability than the tensile test. The high accuracy of the ABI test was used to quantify the degree of over-match of girth welds for 10” and 12” pipelines for conversion of a natural gas pipeline to transmit hydrogen. top
4. What processes do you have to ensure safety while performing this task? UT the spot prior to indentation? Generally, the pipeline operator will perform thickness measurements before we test the pipelines; however, we can also perform UT thickness measurements of any test location prior to testing. Although the ABI test is a direct mechanical properties measurement, it is practically nondestructive because it does not remove any material and does not introduce a stress concentration site. The remaining shallow smooth spherical depression introduces compressive residual stress which retards crack initiation similar to the shot-peening process commonly used in the aerospace industry. top
5. What level of smoothness is required? Is wire brush OK? Since the indenter size is 0.030” diameter, and the final penetration depth is approximately 0.005” at the center of the spherical depression, the final surface preparation includes polishing with a 240 grit disk to ensure accurate test results. top
6. Do you have a process for calibrating your equipment? Yes, prior to any field testing, we verify the calibration of the load cell and the LVDT in a similar manner to the calibration procedures for the load cell and extensometer of a tensile testing machine. Details of the calibration procedures are included in the ABI Test Method found in Appendix B of the PRCI Report. Please keep in mind that although the ABI test is an indentation test, it is not a hardness test; it is comparable to the tensile test where continuous accurate measurements of the applied load and displacement signals are required during the entire test. top
7. Will clock orientation affect results? Is there a best orientation? No, clock orientation does not affect the results because we use a magnetic mount and a spring-loaded LVDT, and we have successfully tested all combinations of 360º including the 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions (see attached photos). top
8. Any external air, water or power needed or is it all battery powered? The SSM equipment is battery powered and consumes less than 300 watts. We can use a car battery or a small generator if it is available. top
