Pipeline

A pipeline is a long-distance pipe system for transporting fluids (crude oil, refined products, natural gas, water, chemicals), inspected by in-line inspection (ILI/pigging), direct assessment, and hydrostatic testing under API 1163, ASME B31.4, and B31.8.

Definition

Pipelines are subject to internal corrosion, external corrosion (CP failures), mechanical damage (third-party hits, dents), SCC, and weld defects. ILI tools include MFL, UT, and caliper pigs; data is analyzed per API 1163.

Related terms

  • Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) — MFL is an electromagnetic NDT method that magnetizes a ferromagnetic component to saturation and detects flux leakage at metal-loss features using Hall-effect or coil sensors, widely used for tank-floor and pipeline pig inspection.
  • ASME B31.4 Liquid Pipelines — ASME B31.4 is the code for transportation of liquids by pipelines, including crude oil, refined petroleum products, liquid alcohols, ammonia, and CO2, defining weld NDT requirements integrated with API 1104.
  • ASME B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping — ASME B31.8 is the code for gas transmission and distribution piping systems, including pipelines and onshore station piping, defining NDT, hydrostatic testing, and integrity management for natural gas service.
  • API 1104 Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities — API 1104 is the welding code for pipelines and related facilities transporting liquids, gases, or slurries, defining procedure and welder qualification, weld inspection (RT, AUT), and acceptance criteria for cross-country and station piping.
  • API 1163 In-Line Inspection Systems Qualification — API 1163 is the standard for qualifying in-line inspection (ILI) tools and processes for hazardous-liquid and gas pipelines, defining tool performance specifications, dig verification programs, and reporting requirements.

Further reading

ndt pipeline integrity inspection guide · pipeline corrosion and mechanical damage assessment

More asset-type terms

Pressure Vessel · Storage Tank · Heat Exchanger · Fired Heater · FPSO · Riser · Jacket · Topsides · Wellhead · Christmas Tree

Where this comes up in practice

Terms like this one appear in three places that matter commercially: the written practice that governs how your personnel are qualified, the procedures and technique sheets that define how an examination is actually performed, and the evidence an auditor or client asks for when they want to know why an inspection was accepted. Getting the terminology right is the easy part; being able to produce the qualification record, the calibration traceability and the procedure revision that applied on the day of the inspection is the part that decides audits.

Atlantis NDT provides NDT training and certification against ASNT SNT-TC-1A and ISO 9712, ASNT Level III consulting for written practices and procedure approval, inspection management software that holds qualification, calibration and procedure-revision evidence in recoverable form, and an asset integrity platform that binds inspection results to the asset they describe. Browse the full NDT glossary or ask a Level III directly.