Enbridge, BHGE Test MRI for Pipes

Baker Hughes (BHGE) said July 25 it and the Canadian midstream and pipeline company Enbridge have launched testing of next-generation ultrasonic phased array pipeline inspection tool sensors designed to enhance accuracy and identification of crack features and to deliver greater detail on the condition of a pipeline.

The sensors are mounted on a robotic inspection device, referred to as a 'Smart Pig' which travels along the inside of a pipeline, measuring the condition of the pipe wall as it goes, said BHGE July 25.

The next generation of inspection tools will provide more accuracy and higher resolution, enabling better maintenance, and an overall improvement on the assurance of pipeline safety which is similar to MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or ultrasound technology used in the medical industry, the statement said.  “Proactive investments in innovation and technology like this are intended to add another layer of safety to our pipeline networks and ultimately, benefit the industry as whole”, Enbridge vice president for pipeline integrity Walter Kresic said.

BHGE and Enbridge have been working successfully together on developing and deploying solutions for pipeline safety for more than 20 years. Enbridge moves roughly 20% of all natural gas consumed in the US, serving key supply basins and demand markets; it also has more than 2,500 MW  net renewable generating capacity in North America and Europe. BHGE is 62.5%-owned by US conglomerate GE.