NDT and Corrosion

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 Non-Destructive Testing

Non-destructive Testing (NDT) covers a range of

physical methods for detecting flaws and
discontinuities in materials, structures, fabrications
and components. NDT is therefore a tool that can
be used in quality control during manufacture and
condition monitoring during service.

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 Principle NDT Methods

The principal NDT methods are:

• Penetrants.
• Magnetic particle inspection.
• Eddy-current testing.
• Radiography.
• Ultrasonics.

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 Guided Wave Testing (GWT)

Guided Wave testing is a relatively new

ultrasonic technique. The equipment used in this
course has been developed specifically for
detecting corrosion in pipes, pipelines and
structural tubulars.

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 What is Corrosion?

The process in which a solid, especially a metal, is

eaten away and changed by a chemical action, as in
the oxidation of iron in the presence of water by an
electrolytic process.

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 Corrosion

All metals that do not exist in the natural state

corrode while those that do exist in the natural
state, the so-called noble metals such as gold
and platinum, do not. All non-noble metals exist
naturally as oxides, carbonates, silicates,
sulphides and other compounds. Corrosion is
the process by which these metals revert to their
natural state.

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 Corrosion

• Corrosion processes are chemical reactions taking

place at the surface of the metal.
• They obey well established chemical laws - which
is fine if you know them!
• We do not need to know these because we are
dealing with the detection of corrosion and not the
prevention.
• Refer to Section 1 of the course notes for a more
detailed explanation.

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 Corrosion in Pipes

Types:
General Methods:
Localised Direct
Crevice Electro-chemical (Wet)
Pitting
Stress
Hydrogen Factors:
Atmosphere
Contents
Temp/press.
Monitoring: Material
Visual Geometry
Radiography
Electro-magnetics Prevention:
Ultrasonics Coatings
Paints
Cathodic protection
Inhibitors

Figure 1.1 Pipe corrosion

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion at girth weld detected on a buried line

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion at girth weld detected on a insulated line

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion

Weld

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion on underside of part buried pipeline

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion on vertical insulated pipeline

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Through wall corrosion on crude oil pipeline

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

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Corrosion Examples – detected with GWT

Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

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 Summary

• NDT is used in a variety of settings in the detection

of manufacturing flaws and in service degradation.
• New NDT methods and applications are being
continuously developed GWT being one such
example.
• GWT is a proven NDT technique for the detection of
corrosion in Pipes, Pipelines & structural tubulars.

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