The COPPERHEAD 20”- 60”

Robotic ILI Crawler with MFL-C, EMAT, or Laser Profilometry

 

The COPPERHEAD in-line-inspection (ILI) tool is a robotic crawler designed for the inspection of out-of-service pipe systems. This crawler is suitable for pipes between 20-60” in diameter. It's powered with a 5,000’ umbilical which transmits real-time video and data to the on-site NDE inspection engineer. The umbilical transmits data and power, and is wrapped in high strength steel members with a breaking strength of over 12,000 lbs. The COPPERHEAD inspection module utilizes various high resolutions NDE systems that rotates circumferentially allowing for the detection of wall loss and axial cracking. When there is an anomaly present, our technicians can evaluate real time and determine the threat level. The COPPERHEAD crawler can navigate multiple 90deg - 1.5d bends (24” and greater) and can also handle vertical sections.

  • Circumferential MFL detects wall loss and axial cracking

  • Direct Beam EMAT provides highly accurate thickness mapping

  • Laser Profilometry (LPM) provides ultra high resolution internal surface mapping

  • COPPERHEAD is light weight and can be loaded with minimal effort

  • Able to navigate diameter changes up to 12”

  • Rapid inspection speeds up to 2000ft per day

Deployment

  1. Once the pipe is empty, a pipe access point needs to be created if one does not already exist.

  2. The COPPERHEAD crawler is loaded into the pipeline and powered on.

  3. The 8 legs extend to center the crawler in the pipe.

  4. The sensor head will be extended to the pipe surface.

  5. As the tool drives through the pipe, the NDE Module will rotate, covering 360 degrees of the pipe surface.

  6. Specialized software analyzes the incoming signals real-time.

  7. Balboa generates a report on the condition of the pipe, indicating the coordinates and sizes of the defective areas.

The VIPER 6”- 12”

Tethered Bi-Directional EMAT Thickness mapping ILI tool

 

The VIPER is our 6-inch to 12-inch In-line Inspection (ILI) tool designed for out-of-service facility lines. It has a maximum travel distance of 16,000 ft and is able to navigate 1.5 d bends and offtakes. The VIPER is equipped with high-resolution cameras for dents and ovality as well as ultrasonic EMAT sensors for high-accuracy wall thickness mapping. The tool is propelled with compressed air or nitrogen. Once the inspection distance has been reached the pressure is dropped and the tool is winched back. By utilizing non-contact EMAT we are able to minimize friction on the pipe surface, allowing us to travel further and through more bends when compared to standard tethered MFL tools. EMAT also provides a direct measurement with thickness readings accurate to within +/-0.5 mm. With this sensor suite, we are able to get a 100% volumetric inspection of the pipe with a complete thickness map of the pipeline.

EMAT is a non-contact ultrasonic technique that generates the sound in the pipeline itself, with well-known advantages for in-line inspection such as:

  • No couplant needed. Ultrasound waves are generated in dry or empty pipe

  • Imperviousness to surface conditions. The EMAT signals can be generated on dirty, coated, or rusty pipelines

  • Easy to deploy sensors. EMAT sensors do not need to be perfectly perpendicular to the pipe wall and can provide accurate readings on bends and during higher tool speeds

  • Unique wave modes. EMAT can generate ultrasonic modes or wave forms that can be customized to detect different types of defects

Guided Wave Inspection Services

GWT - Full Coverage Anomaly Detection

Overview:

  • Inspect up to 100 pipe-support locations per day

  • Able to inspect pipes with diameters 3" and greater (2” with axial scanning)

  • Rapid Report turnaround

  • Permits inspection of areas 25 mm to 3,000 mm from the sensor placement

  • Able to scan axially or circumferentially depending on the support configuration

One of the leading causes of above-ground process pipe failure is due to corrosion under pipe supports (CUPS). Inspection of these areas has typically been difficult and results have not provided accurate and actionable assessments of the pipe-to-support interface. By utilizing cutting-edge MRUT technology, Balboa technicians are able to rapidly inspect the pipe-to-support areas. MRUT (Medium Range UT) is a guided wave / bulk wave technique with a range of approximately 25 mm to 3,000 mm from the location where the inspection is performed. All MRUT techniques use Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) technology and different types of sensors and wave modes (Lamb, SH, Shear Vertical) to adapt to the requirements of the application.

Features:

  • Rapid inspection speeds on inaccessible areas

  • The system provides scanning on bare pipes or pipes with a coating

  • Inspection of pipe supports from the top - Uses axial scanning to find corrosion under supports

  • Inspection of inaccessible areas from side: Side (circumferential) scanning is used for the detection of defects in inaccessible areas of pipe up to approximately 3 m (~10 ft.) from the inspection point

  • Highly repeatable results

  • Pipe thickness ranges from 3mm to 15mm

  • Simple and easy-to-understand reports

  • Long battery life for minimal downtime

  • Inspections are done while the pipe remains in-service

  • All raw data is saved and can be provided

The MOCCASIN 16” - 54”

Tethered Robotic Internal Pipe Inspection (ILI)

The MOCCASIN in-line-inspection (ILI) tool is a robotic inspection system designed for the inspection of water pipe systems and drained and cleaned facility piping. This crawler is suitable for pipes between 16” - 54” in diameter. It is powered with a 1,600’ umbilical which transmits real-time NDE data

The MOCCASIN inspection system utilizes the Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM) technique for the detection of metal loss in the pipe wall.  Prior to inspection start, a frequency is generated in the pipe wall by fastening a cable to the beginning and end of the run that is to be inspected.  When the frequency generator is turned on, fields are generated in the pipe. When there is an anomaly present, changes in the electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability of the pipe, occur. The MOCCASIN crawler navigates the pipe and utilizes on-board sensors to detect these field changes. These results are processed in real time and a wall loss calculation is completed. 

These results are processed real time and a volumetric wall loss calculation is completed.

The MOCCASIN Offers the Following Advantages over other techniques:

  • Water Pipeline cleaning is not required.  Inspections can be completed through deposits or growth up to 1.25” thick

  • 6 robotic tracks allow the tool to navigate vertical sections and areas with excessive debris

  • The Moccasin crawler is lightweight and can be loaded with minimal effort

  • Rapid inspection speeds with an inspection rate of over 3000 ft per day

MOCASSIN CASE STUDY

AERIAL ULTRASOUND

Highly accurate thickness readings at heights

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Balboa Inspection and Maintenance has added a new service offering to its portfolio. Balboa I&M will now be conducting aerial thickness surveys. Utilizing EMAT ultrasound technology and advanced UAV (drone) technology, we are able to provide highly accurate thickness readings on metal assets.

  • No contact required to perform measurements - gap up to 3mm

  • Misalignment (angle) up to 25 degrees

  • Inspection of any metal surface - coated, painted, or corroded

  • Eliminate working at height – Keep your inspectors safe on the ground

Boiler Inspection Services

Highly accurate thickness mapping

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Balboa’s boiler inspection service are unsurpassed in the detection of wall loss, hydrogen damage, and caustic gauging of boiler tubes.

The inspection is performed using the Temate TG-IS(B) system, the only equipment in the market that permits full scanning of the boiler tube wall with accurate thickness readings. In addition to thickness readings, the EMAT technique detects hydrogen corrosion cracking (HCC) and caustic gauging while scanning. The inspection is performed without couplant, and with minimal surface preparation.

The inspection includes:

  • Measurement of remaining wall thickness on both carbon steel and clad materials

  • Exclusive boiler mapping software that provides easy visualization of boiler walls with results of inspection for fast analysis and interpretation

  • Proven technique with hundreds of boilers and thousands of kilometers of inspected tube worldwide