RAPID System for Crack Detection in Riser Pipes

Abstract

Risers are the major component of offshore oil platforms, and any failure can have serious environmental and economic consequences. But monitoring the structural integrity of riser pipes in service is challenging. Utilizing SMART Layer® technology, a Real-time Active Pipeline Integrity Detection (RAPID) system has been developed for in-situ structural integrity assessment of a pipeline. The RAPID system consists of a sensor network permanently mounted on the host pipeline, portable electronic hardware and diagnostic software. Previous studies have demonstrated the use of the RAPID system to detect corrosion in pipelines. In this paper, the capability to detect and size cracks is presented. With the support of Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc., a series of tests have been conducted on 4 flat coupons and 2 riser pipes to verify the crack detection capability. It was shown that the RAPID system is extremely sensitive to crack growth, and that a multitude of information can be collected about physical changes on the structure, even in the presence of existing defects. Crack initiation, crack location and crack profiling was demonstrated using minimal calibration information.