ROBOTIC IN-LINE INSPECTION OF A 6-INCH DIFFICULT-TO-INSPECT GAS PIPELINE PART II: OPERATION AND RESULTS
Proceedings Publication Date
Presenter
David Gian
Presenter
Author
Timo Schulten, David Gian, Christoph Sur, Stefan Klein
Part of the proceedings of
Abstract

GASCADE operates a natural gas transmission pipeline system which links suppliers and customers in Germany and is directly connected to major European transit pipelines and LNG terminals. Although the entire pipeline system is piggable from a structural perspective, challenging operating conditions do not allow the application of free-swimming ILI tools using standard practices for about 10% of GASCADE’s network. These Difficult-To-Inspect (DTI) pipeline segments require a different approach to acquire inspection data for pipeline integrity assessment and future maintenance planning. Either significant operating expenses are required to apply standard practices or different tools that can accommodate given operating conditions. In a collaboration project GASCADE successfully applied Intero’s tetherless, self-propelled and remotely operated Pipe Explorer robotic MFL technology to inspect a 6-inch low-flow branch line segment. Part I of this paper presented in 2025 covered GASCADE’s DTI pipeline assessment and inspection tool selection process complementing established direct assessment (DA) methods. This contribution provides details of actual site preparation, tool operation and results of this project. Part II focuses on sensitive items of particular importance of Intero’s Pipe Explorer work programme, on-site preparation and tool. Data integration of Pipe Explorer inspection results are presented and compared to existing DA results.

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