MFL RunCom

Perform reliable, direct comparisons ofcorrosion growth between inspection runs
to enable more accurate and cost-effective
corrosion management

The ability to calculate accurate corrosion growth rates
will be a key determinant in the success of your corrosionmanagement strategy and, consequently, the future
integrity of your pipeline.

Increase the value of your data
RunCom™ is Process & Pipeline Services’ suite of runcomparison software designed to analyze data frommultiple in-line inspections. It performs a direct, quantitative
comparison to provide your decision makers with actionable
information.
Our highly skilled analysts use MFL RunCom to compare
data from our MagneScan™ inspection tools. We haveother RunCom software to compare data from ourUltraScan™ WM inspection tools, as well as data from othervendors’ tools. Importantly, UltraScan WM and magnetic
signals can be compared in the event that successive
inspection runs utilize different technologies.
The software details corrosion activity along an entire
pipeline, confirms the effectiveness of past remedial
measures, and provides the technical basis for safe andcost-effective remediation and operating plans.

not rely on previously processed data or second-handinformation. One of the most common sources of error
is the incorrect matching of corrosion sites. RunComeliminates this possibility by comparing raw inspection
signals side-by-side, instead of using data that has
already been processed by other software. This allows 100%
accuracy in matching corrosion sites. Through its signal
scaling tools, RunCom adjusts for tool repeatability andmaintains consistent sizing methods to minimize othererror sources. This approach has proven to be up to threetimes more accurate than feature comparisons without
RunCom.
RunCom performs
side-by-side
matching of raw
signal data fromvarious inspection
tools to deliver 100%
data matching
accuracy andidentify corrosion
growth sites.

Perform ‘pure’ comparisons
While less advanced comparison methods can indicate
extreme corrosion growth between inspection runs, theycannot reliably quantify the precise extent or locationof active corrosion. But this is exactly the level of detailneeded to properly prioritize corrosion sites and develop
successful, economical remediation strategies. In fact, it isfor this reason that operators are advised to select a highresolution inspection tool for their ILI activities.
MFL RunCom provides a superior solution because it does

Corrosion growth
information isprovided for theentire length of thepipeline.

Since its introduction in 1999, RunCom has proven tocustomers worldwide that it determines corrosion growth
rates with greater confidence and higher accuracy thanother methods. The information provided in a RunComanalysis is invaluable in the decision-making process andprioritization of the remedial measures necessary to limit
future corrosion growth.

Accuracy of Growth Prediction(Confidence level)

100%

80%70%MFL RUNCOMUS RUNCOM 12.7mm wt
US RUNCOM 6.4mm wt
USWM vs MFL RUNCOM
USWM vs MFL RUNCOM 6.4mm wt
3rd party RUNCOM

60%50%

051015202530

Measured Growth, %wt

This information, together with an advanced integrity
evaluation, will optimize future repair and re-inspectionneeds—resulting in significant cost savings—whencompared with estimated rates and codified corrosion
assessment methods.
A RunCom Plus assessment is also available, which applies
individual spool growth rates in an integrity assessment of
the metal loss in the pipeline in order to determine a timebased optimized repair plan.

90%

MFL RunCom typically delivers at least
three times the accuracy of other box orfeature comparison methods available.

Example of viewing andanalysis tools available
within RunCom reporting
software.

Procedure summaryFirst, data from two inspections is aligned by matchinggirth weld locations along the entire pipeline, taking into
account any changes in pipe joint lengths due to cut-outs,etc.
• A comparison of the magnetic signal response fromeach tool is conducted at intervals along the line andsignal scaling factors are applied to ensure the best
possible match and minimize magnetic differences• RunCom automatically matches the inspection signals
from each survey, using pattern recognition algorithms• By applying a single, consistent sizing model to each
set of magnetically normalized data, RunCom removes
additional potential inaccuracies to increase the level ofconfidence in the measurement of the corrosion rate
• The final step is to home in on identified growth sites andother major areas of interest and to quantify corrosion
growth by analyzing the changes in the magnetic signals
The assessment report gives full details of where active
corrosion has been identified on the pipeline and of any
other significant changes that have occurred between
the two inspection runs. RunCom reporting software isalso available. It provides advanced filtering, navigation,graphing, and reporting to facilitate viewing, interrogation,evaluation, and exporting of the corrosion growth
information from the RunCom analysis.
Additional reporting can also be provided including
detailed listings of the external and internal corrosion
growth rates along the entire pipeline on a spool-byspool, feature-by-feature, and box-by-box basis, corrosion
growth rate summary statistics, and charts showing thecorrosion growth trends for the pipeline.

Key features• Detection of internal and external corrosion growth• Joint-by-joint listing of corrosion activity• Quantification of corrosion growth throughout thepipeline• Identification of new corrosion sites and any other newfeatures (e.g., dents, touching metal objects, etc.)

Key benefits• Provides visibility of corrosion activity (and any otherchanges) along an entire pipeline• Gives early warning of active corrosion which enables
cost-effective, early intervention• Confirms where remedial measures have been effective,
thus avoiding costly future excavations and repairs• Provides a segmentation of the pipeline based on
corrosion activity• Enables better-informed integrity and remediation
planning decisions• Optional RunCom viewing and reporting software
available to interrogate and evaluate corrosion growth
results

Alternatively, there is the option of a short RunComScreening report which identifies the highest corrosion
growth rates in the pipeline, recommending, if appropriate,a full RunCom assessment to be performed.

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