Case study

Baker Hughes’ intelligent subsea pigging
solution helps bring remote pipeline into
service, saving time and money“By establishing effective
communication with the customer
early on, we were able to ensure acollaborative approach to the premobilization design, procurement
and testing phase of the project,”
said Anthony Lowery, Baker Hughes,
Process & Pipeline Services’ leadproject management specialist.
“This approach created a clear
understanding of the requirements
and success criteria and allowed
time in the schedule to repeat
testing as required. We worked hardto ensure that all delivery timelines
were met as we mobilized thiseffective solution to the customer.”

Background
Operators of remote offshore pipelines – particularly those with subsea launch andreceive traps – face many challenges to successful inline inspection (ILI) activities.
Line conditions, geographical complexities and changes in pipeline construction canadversely impact the accuracy of ILI data. Concerns such as these were in play at aplatform in one of the northern-most oil and gas production fields in the world, theNorth Sea.
To bring a 7-km span of 10-inch gas injection pipeline into service, the EPC contractor
was in search of an inspection technology that could handle a subsea launch at a430-meter water depth, and a cost-effective solution. Due to extremely challenging
weather conditions associated with this region, an inspection operating window wasonly available between the months of May and September.
The contractor turned to Baker Hughes for an intelligent pigging solution to deliver thequality baseline inspection data needed to successfully open the line.

SolutionBaker Hughes, Process & Pipeline Services (PPS) business was awarded a contract
in 2017 to undertake the inspection using its 10-inch MagneScan magnetic flux
leakage (MFL4) inspection tool. This waterproof, high resolution tool performs metal
loss detection and geometry inspection, with the option of pipeline mapping using
an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The PPS team initially mobilized two MFL4 tools instandard build configuration.

However, when it later was determined that a line restriction
prevented safely running the standard tools, the initial effort
was demobilized. Next, the PPS team provided an engineered
solution to reduce the MFL4 tool’s minimum bore passingcapability. With a custom-engineered reduced bore passing
application fitted to the tool, testing was conducted prior
to remobilization to ensure that the tool could effectively
magnetize the nominal bore flowline and detect and sizefeatures within the agreed specification.

Results
This first-time inspection encountered significant challenges– including a tight equipment delivery schedule to the remotelocation via a vessel on hire by the customer. To help mitigate
these challenges, the PPS team sent a second “back-up”
MagneScan MFL4 inspection tool in case the first unit failed.
While the contingency tool was never put to use, its presence
offered the customer peace of mind due to its potential to savesignificant time and money if a second tool had been needed.
In September 2019, the first MagneScan tool was successfully
pumped through the pipeline. The team performed a single
run inspection with fully integrated caliper measurement toCopyright 2022 Baker Hughes Company. All rights reserved.
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02/2022

identify and assess geometry deformations. An IMU was used
to precisely identify the centerline of the pipe continuously
down the line. After an in-field data quality assessment
confirmed that the inspection tool had functioned correctly
and recorded data for the full length of the pipeline, the PPS
team completed a successful baseline inspection analysis of
the gas injection pipeline and issued a report.
“By establishing effective communication with the customer
early on, we were able to ensure a collaborative approach tothe pre-mobilization design, procurement and testing phase of
the project,” said Anthony Lowery, Baker Hughes’ lead project
management specialist. “This approach created a clear
understanding of the requirements and success criteria andallowed time in the schedule to repeat testing as required. We
worked hard to ensure that all delivery timelines were met as
we mobilized this effective solution to the customer.”
Baker Hughes’ ability to swiftly provide accurate inspection
data helped the customer save both time and money in thecreation of its first Integrity Management Plan to maintain thecondition and preserve the service life of this key pipeline in a
strategically important gas field.

bakerhughes.com