WORK PROCEDURE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PIPE

WALL
THICKNESS
USING
PROFILE
RADIOGRAPHY
METHOD

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 OBJECTIVE
3.0 RADIOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
4.0 RADIOGRAPHIC FILM
5.0 RADIOGRAPHIC SCREENS
6.0 EXPOSURE SET-UP / NUMBER OF SHOTS
6.1 GENERAL
6.2 HORIZONTAL PIPE-WORK AND CONNECTIONS
6.3 VERTICAL PIPE-WORK AND CONNECTIONS
7.0 COMPARATOR
8.0 GEOMETRIC UNSHARPNESS
9.0 SOURCE TO FILM DISTANCE
10.0 INTERPRETATION OF RADIOGRAPHS
11.0 BLOW FACTOR
12.0 RADIOGRAPHIC DENSITY
13.0 SOURCE PLACEMENT
14.0 REPORT FORMATS

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
This procedure specifically applies to all profile radiographs
taken to determine the minimum wall thickness for all pipework
when applied by Steadfast Inspection personnel where no such
procedure exists or is provided by the Client.
This procedure should be read in conjunction with Principal
Radiographic Procedure with registered procedure noRadiographic Examination of Welds in accordance with the
requirements of ASME Section V and ANSI/ASME B31.3.
The purpose for the work procedure is to dedicate the profile
radiography for the pipework monitoring of remaining wall
thickness data utilizing the conventional radiography method.
2.0 OBJECTIVE
This work procedure establishes the conventional method
application of radiographic principals from which the wall
thickness of process piping represented on the resulting
radiograph may be made.
The understanding was made and addressed mainly for the
data gathering of the remaining wall thickness to be
incorporated for traceability for the usage of integrity
assessment.
This also addresses the specific issues faced when properly
radiographing a piping component for determination of wall
thickness, and makes reference to Principal Radiographic
Procedure with registered procedure number -Radiographic
Examination of Welds in accordance with the requirements of
ASME Section V, ANSI and ASME B31.3 for factors regarding
commonalities in radiographic principals and procedures such
as radiation safety, processing radiographs, determination of
exposure times, image quality of radiographs, comparison of
density and other specific radiographic requirements.
3.0 RADIOGRAPHIC SOURCES
Radiographic sources used for profile radiography shall be
selected from Iridium 192 isotope.
4.0 RADIOGRAPHIC FILM
Radiographic film shall be of the Class I or Class II type as
defined and outlined in ASTM SA-197. This film shall consist of a
gelatinous base and emulsion on both sides.
The Radiographic film shall also contain manufactured
indicators relating to the type and speed of the film and shall
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be chosen based on its properties to easily discriminate the

reference indicator and the area of interest on the processed
radiograph such that image burn-off is minimized.
5.0 RADIOGRAPHIC SCREENS
Radiographic screens made of lead are required to be utilized
when using gamma ray sources. Lead thickness for intensifying
screens shall be 0.010 and shall be required for each side of
the radiographic film since the film used in this procedure is
required to contain emulsion on each side.
In lieu of the above, phosphorescent screens may be used in
accordance with manufacturers instructions to lessen
calculated exposure times and to allow for exposures of
increased relative chord thickness.
6.0 EXPOSURE SET-UP / NUMBER OF SHOTS
6.1 General
The following methods identified in Sections 6.2 & 6.3 shall be
adopted to ascertain and evaluate internal pipe wall thinning,
material loss, erosion and corrosion using conventional profile
radiography techniques.
Datum reference points shall be marked on the pipe or
insulation using an indelible datum and clearly identified on the
Radiographic Inspection Report to ensure repeat inspections at
the correct location(s) are clearly obtainable.
Only one exposure separated in circumferential angle by 90 to
another shall be taken to determine tangential/profile wall
thicknesses. Areas within the radiographic images other than
the pipe tangents shall also be assessed as higher densities
indicate areas which may be exhibiting material loss such as
corrosion and/or erosion.
6.2 Horizontal pipe-work and connections
A visual examination to evaluate the external condition of the
pipe-work shall be carried out prior to radiography to identify
any obvious areas of concern. The initial exposure shall be set
up to ensure that the test location is shot through the 3 & 9
oclock positions to capture the lowest point (6 oclock position)
tangentially on the radiograph. A second exposure shall then be
taken at a 90 interval, if required.
On interpretation of the resultant radiographs and similarly
from the initial visual examination, further tangential exposures
may be required around the pipe circumference to fully assess
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any additional area(s) of concern and to identify and evaluate

the lowest remaining wall thickness within the particular test
point. Further RT exposures required will be subject to
discretion of Client or Offshore Integrity Engineer on site.
6.3 Vertical pipe-work and connections
A visual examination to evaluate the external condition of the
pipe-work shall be carried out prior to radiography to identify
any obvious areas of concern. At this stage, at least one area
around the pipe circumference shall be considered worst case
and identified to be radiographed for further assessment. The
area(s) shall be clearly identified as to its/their position around
the circumference using Platform
North as the datum point for subsequent cardinal point location
references. The initial exposure shall be set-up to ensure that
the area of concern identified by the visual inspection is
captured tangentially on the resultant radiographic image. A
second exposure shall then be taken at a 90 interval. On
interpretation of the resultant radiographs obtained from the
initial exposures, as detailed in 6.1 and 6.2 above, further.
Tangential exposures may be required around the pipe
circumference to fully assess any additional area(s) of concern
and to identify and evaluate the lowest remaining wall
thickness within the particular test point. Further RT exposures
required will be subject to discretion of Client or Offshore
Integrity Engineer on site.
7.0 COMPARATOR
Comparators shall be used on all radiographs to indicate the
amount of radiographic enlargement and geometric properties
of the exposure set-up and shall be of such configuration that
they may be seen clearly on the processed radiograph with
little distortion or burn-off. They shall be used in such a manner
that their placement is essentially adjacent to and normal to,
the area of interest of the processed radiograph and shall be
radiographically similar to the material under test. Comparator
shall be placed onto the pipework for every test points.
The preferred comparator size is described in Table 1.0 and
shall be used for all exposures performed to this procedure.
Variations from this design are permitted as long as the
comparator is a ball of radiographically similar material and
sufficient shielding is used to minimize burn-off of the ball
edge.

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The standard comparator shall consist of a 2 sizes diameter

ball. These 2 sizes of comparator shall accommodate the pipe
size range during the profile radiography activities.

8.0 GEOMETRIC UNSHARPNESS

Geometric considerations shall be taken into account for all
radiographs and shall refer to the Principal Radiographic
Procedure.
The geometric unsharpness shall generally be sufficient if the
film is placed directly behind the object to be radiographed and
the source is placed 7.5 times the diameter of the piping from
the film or at least 10 (250.0mm). However a test shot should
take place to confirm the quality of the radiograph works.
The geometric unsharpness of all radiographs shall be limited
to 0.020 except for those instances where a 7.5 factor cannot
be used due to space limitations.
9.0 SOURCE TO FILM DISTANCE
As a general rule, the minimum source to film distance to be
utilized for profile radiography shall be 7.5 times or at least 10
(250.0mm). However a test shot should take place to confirm
the quality of the radiograph works. RT films shall be re-locate
on other orientation of the diameter of the piping under test
considering the space limitation is an issue.
The 7.5 factor for source distance is an acceptable geometric
unsharpness if the film is in close proximity to the object under
test. The similar technique also applicable of the object is
insulated or wrapped with polymer or neoprene material.
10.0 INTERPRETATION OF RADIOGRAPHS
The entire images of the film shall be assessed for material
deterioration and other potential corrosion mechanisms within
the pipework and adjacent components.
Preferably using an eye graticule, the measurement shall then
be taken across the two scribe points and the actual wall
thickness through the tangent calculated using the measured

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wall thickness multiplied by the Blow Factor as detailed in

Section 11.0.
Welds butt type shall be measured excluding the reinforcement
height. Butt weld thickness measurement interpretation shall
refer to the pipe material thickness as reference thickness.

11.0 BLOW FACTOR

The blow factor is the amount of radiographic enlargement of
the images of the pipe under test and the comparator image
relative to the actual dimensions of the components actual
dimensions. This blow factor is due to source to object distance,
object to film distance, and source to film distance as well as
the physical dimensions of the radiographic source. A Blow
Factor shall be calculated by the following method:
The visible diameter of the radiographed image of the
comparator shall be measured and recorded in millimetre
(mm).

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 The measurement obtained above shall be divided into the

original unradiographed comparator dimension, diameter in
millimetre (mm)
The resulting calculated value shall be multiplied by 100 to
obtain a percentage.
This percentage shall be multiplied by the measured cross
sectional thickness of the radiographic image of the pipe wall to
obtain the thickness of the piping under test.
Generally, a blow factor of 80% and higher (inclusive) is
considered acceptable, although lower factors may be
considered acceptable dependent upon space constraints for
the exposure, etc.
12. Radiographic Density
The transmitted film density through the radiographic image of
the body of the appropriate hole IQI or adjacent to the
designated wire of a wire IQI and the area of interest shall be
1.8 minimum for single film viewing for radiographs made with
an X-ray source and 2.0 minimum for radiographs made with a
gamma ray source.
For composite viewing of multiple film exposures, each film of
the composite set shall have a minimum density of 1.3. The
maximum density shall be 4.0 for either single or composite
viewing. A tolerance of 0.05 in density is allowed for variations
between densitometer readings.
13.0 SOURCE PLACEMENT
The source shall be placed essentially perpendicular to the film,
comparator, and pipe wall for all exposures. This arrangement
allows for exposures with geometric factors, which produce true
images of the components that make-up a good radiograph
where the pipe wall is a true representation of the thickness of
the pipe, the comparator is round.
14.0 REPORTING FORMAT
For the Profile Radiography Test campaign, the report format
shall consist of the following;
a. Inspection Report
b. Visual Inspection
c. Radiographic Report
d. Photo Report
e. Attached Isometric Drawings with Mark-up Test Points for
reference.

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