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Germany
For over 30 years, 3P Services has been driven by the idea that we must Protect People and Planet. This is what continues to drive our success today. Our In-Line Inspection services are designed and engineered to ensure the safety and protection of our planet and its inhabitants.
Our general inspection concept is to adapt our inspection tools to the pipeline’s existing configuration rather than insisting on pipeline modifications until standard ILI equipment can be applied, which generally leads to solutions that are more cost-effective for the client, where challenging pipelines exist.
The primary motive of 3P shareholders is sustainability. In 30+ years we have not changed ownership, which guarantees you continuity of service and no business disruption. We are a young company with incredible diversity and recognize this contributes to our innovative approach to customer solutions. Our aim is to serve our clients for another 30 years by focusing on protecting people and the planet.
▪ Combined data analysis by ANSI-ASNT-ILIPQ qualified data analysts
▪ Multiple run comparison
▪ R&D projects together with industrial partners
▪ We pay attention to your wishes and requirements
▪ Enhanced interaction guarantees a direct and continuous flow of information
▪ High first-run success rate
▪ Comprehensive experience in challenging media
▪ Targeted solutions for
Our fleet which includes 400+ live ILI tools, ranging in diameter from 2” to 48” , is deeply modular.
3P is specialized in providing state-of-the-art inline inspection of pipelines and other structures transporting and storing hydrocarbons.
Operators are confronted by a large variety of threats to the integrity and safety of their pipelines and installations.
With our sensor technologies we have reliable solutions to identify defects.
Today the MFL fleet offers tools of unique design among the most appreciated by the market. Without the need of a specific coupling medium, MFL records metal loss down to pinhole dimensions on the internal and external surface of the pipeline.
The MFL technique can handle all ferritic steel pipelines. The principle is not affected by the pipeline product and, therefore, the operation of the pipeline is usually not affected. The tools can be used in liquids, multi-phase products and gaseous environments.
A strong magnetic field is introduced around the ILI tool into the pipe wall by means of extremely strong permanent magnets. These imbue the pipe wall with a magnetic field close to saturation. If this array encounters thinning of the pipe wall for whatever reason a magnetic flux will “leak” at that location. This is detected by the MFL sensors, processed on board the tool and stored in the electronics module.
3P’s fleet today combines high-saturation magnetic circuits with minimum gap sensor array assembled in unique design inspection tools. This leads to a data resolution in a pattern of approx. 5mm x 5mm over the entire area of the pipeline’s surface.
A secondary DMR – Direct Magnetic Response – sensor array supports the MFL to distinguish internal and external features.
3P Services offers MFL inspections since 1994.
Today the MFL equipment fleet ranges from 2” to 48”. A broad variety of special tools is available that responds to challenging and non-conventional pipelines. Examples include multi-diameter inspections, tight bends (down to radius 1D), high speed, high pressure (up to 400 bar), high temperature (up to 120 °C), long distance and extended battery lifetime.
All MFL tool sizes can be configured for bi-directional operation.
MFL can be combined with other inspection technologies for combo tools.
Measuring the roundness of a pipeline is a common application of in-line inspection. Such tools take continuous readings while travelling through the line to find any out-of-roundness features.
3P Services’ fleet of GEO tools are fully developed ILI systems that deliver high-resolution data. The dimensions of deformations that are reported are significantly below integrity concern so that operators can plan at an early stage and take preventive action, if necessary.
3P’s GEO tools take mechanical measurements of geometric information at the pipe wall by means of arms or fingers (generally with wheels) and alternatively with segmented cups. The information is processed and stored on board in the tool’s electronic systems.
A GEO inspection delivers continuous multi-channel data detailing internal geometry and associated information of the pipeline. Comparable to metal-loss ILI data, 3P GEO data show length, width, shape and depth of penetration (for example, a dent) together with the exact location. In many cases, the highly detailed GEO data allow our clients to forecast the origin of the deformation even before excavation investigation.
GEO+ extends the performance envelope even further. It is equipped with an additional feature that is very helpful in regard to pipeline cleaning. GEO+ can distinguish between a dent and an accumulated dune of debris (such as loose sand) or other obstacles (such as loose objects remaining in the line). These features create standard GEO signals with strong similarity to a pipeline deformation, which may lead to serious misunderstandings and incorrect repair decisions.
Each GEO+ arm carries an additional magnetic sensor, measuring the distance to the inner surface of the pipe. On a smooth dent or deformation this proximiter will indicate no change while an accumulation of non-magnetic material will show a rising distance to the pipe wall when the GEO-arm rides over it.
Ultrasonic Inspection (UT) is the most common means of non-destructive testing and inspection in the industry for metallic wall thickness measurement for many decades. Applying UT sensors to ILI tools took many years of development. Common UT-measurements “from the outside” can result in area progress of 0,01 m² (manual) to possibly 1 m² (manipulated) per hour. In ILI applications for larger pipeline diameters several 1000 m² per hour have to be handled.
3P’s UT ILI tools are state-of-the-art inspection systems with high-end performance and are available through the entire pipeline diameter range.
The Physical Background of Ultrasonic Inspection Tools
An impulse of ultra-high frequency sound is emitted from an exciter (within the UT-sensor) and moves through the liquid product towards and into the pipe wall. Wherever it encounters a (smooth) surface, part of the impulse is reflected while the other part moves on. All reflections are received back inside the same sensor. Considering the travelling time of the different echoes leads to know the internal and external pipe surface and deviations from normal.
Key Advantages
Availability Details
Since navigation by satellite, as commonly used in cars, is not possible from within a pipeline, an XYZ inertial measurement unit on board the ILI tool is required. It carries angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors for all three dimensions in order to track the pipeline course during inspection run. By means of above ground markers the inertial data can be referenced to the geographic coordinate system so they can be handled by the usual navigation and cartographic systems.
3P Services offers the XYZ beginning 2010. The recent high-end inertial system is available since 2019.
The XYZ can be run as stand-alone tool or fixed to any ILI. Standard or bi-directional configuration.
Smallest XYZ application is in 3” pipelines.
