Autonomous Robot in the Field of Inaccessible Piping System Inspection

Abstract

Autonomous inspection robots have emerged as a theme in the digital transformation era, under the umbrella of industrial smart plants for their claimed superiority, safe operation, and cost-effectiveness. Autonomous inspection robots play an essential role in inspecting inaccessible pipelines and process piping, due to their great maneuverability to traverse various bends and geometries, e.g., elbows and T-joints. Saudi Aramco Inspection Department, in collaboration with Shaybah Producing Department, conducted a field trial of an autonomous robot to apply multiple inspection methods simultaneously, in an inaccessible 30" gas pipeline. The robotic system is equipped with motored magnetic wheels to enable movement inside the pipe and can hold the inspection system at certain pre-defined coordinates. The pilot study concluded that the autonomous robot provides accurate corrosion mapping and performs different inspection simultaneously. In addition, the robot has demonstrated great maneuverability inside the pipe in all orientations, i.e. axial, circumferential, and in between. The system has shown a strong potential to inspect inaccessible piping system while minimizing extremely expensive practices, e.g. scaffold erections, excavations, in a timely manner, with ease on logistics and labor. The use of autonomous robotic scanner provides the operating facility with an option, which is cost-effective and requires a single deployment to complete multiple inspection tasks. The system is capable of replacing the current practice of deploying multiple technologies for a complete inspection inside the pipeline. The system is a self-contained inspection robot that conduct various inspection functions simultaneously, including: Optical Video System, Ultrasonic Guided Waves, Ultrasonic Shear Wave and Ultrasonic Corrosion Mapping with dry-point contact transducers. The system will detect flaws, identify their type and measure the parameters of the pipeline's base metal, welding defects, and provided detailed information and data on the condition of the examined assets, while internally scanning the pipeline. The robot requires, minimum clean-up, and has great maneuverability to go through various bends and geometries, i.e. elbows, T-joints, etc. The autonomous robot can be inserted through the available manhole hatches. The robot is wireless capable and can reach up to 1,000 — 1,500 meters inside the pipe, while being controlled and inspection data is received continuously in outside control room.