INSPECTION PROCEDURES ON STANDARD DS 1 VOL.

3 DRILL STEM INSPECTION

Chapter 3
INSPECTION PROCEDURES Sub Section: 3.7 3.7 Electromagnetic 1 Inspection
3.7.1 Scope: This procedure covers the upset to upset scanning of steel drill pipe tubes for transverse flaws using flux leakage detection equipment. (Procedure 3.8 covers electromagnetic inspection units that also incorporate a wall thickness measurement system.) 3.7.2 Inspection Apparatus: a. The EMI unit shall be equipped with a DC coil and shall be designed to allow active longitudinal field inspection of the tube surface from upset to upset. The unit shall generate a permanent record of the pipe inspection and standardization. The reference standard shall be a through wall drilled hole standard prepared from a length of pipe of the same nominal diameter as the pipe to be inspe cted. The hole size shall be 1/64 in diameter. The standard may have one hole for each detector, with holes arranged in a spiral pattern.

b.

3.7.3 Preparation: a. b. All pipe shall be sequentially numbered All surfaces from upset to upset shall be clean to a degree that the metal surfaces are visible and the pipe surface is not sticky to the touch. Paint and clear lacquer coatings less than 0.010 inches thick are acceptable. Any condition interfering with detector ride on the pipe shall be corrected.

3.7.4 Standardization: a. b. The equipment shall be adjusted to produce a common reference amplitude (minimum 10 mm) from each detector whenever a drilled hole is scanned. The minimum signal to noise ratio shall be 3 to 1. After standardization adjustments, the reference standard shall be dynamically scanned four times at the speed to be used for inspection, with no changes in any settings. Each signal channel must produce indications of at least 80% of the reference amplitude established in 3.7.4a, with a minimum signal to noise ratio of 3 to 1. The detectors shall be sized for the pipe being inspected and shall ride on the surface of the pipe without any visible gap. The unit shall be standardized or re-standardized: At the start of each inspection After each 50 length Each time the unit is turned on When any mechanical or electronic changes or standardization setting adjustments are made When the validity of the last standardization is questioned Upon completion of the inspection

c. d.

Re-standardization shall be performed prior to making adjustments to DC coil amperage. Automatic calibration functions must be turned off during re-standardization. e. f. If standardization is lost between one of the intervals above, all pipe run since the last valid standardization shall be reinspected after correcting the standardization. Standardization runs must appear in their proper sequence on the production logs.

3.7.5 Inspection Procedure: a. b. Each length shall scanned from upset to upset The following information shall be recorded in the permanent record for each joint inspected: Permanent serial number or metal stamped identification number. End from which scanning began (pin or box) Marking of indications which are to be evaluated The scanning rate shall be the same for production and standardization runs and shall be documented on the inspection report. On buggy type EMI units the inspection head shall be propelled into the near tool joint with the detectors leading, then the head turned around and propelled full length into the opposite tool joint. At the start of inspection, each indication exceeding 50 % of the standardization reference level shall be marked until a minimum of 10 areas are marked. Each marked area shall be proved up using visual, mechanical measurement, magnetic particle, ultrasonic, or other techniques as required to identify, if possible, the type of imperfection, its depth, orientation and proximity to the OD surface. (Re-standardization shall be made based upon the results of prove up if either the inspector or the customer representative judge that this is advisable.)____ Areas producing and indication greater than the threshold level shall be proved up.

c.

d. e.

f.

3.7.6 Acceptance Criteria: a. b. Pipe with imperfections exceeding the specified limits of table 3.5.1 or 3.5.2 (as applicable) and 3.6.1 or 3.6.2 (as applicable) shall be rejected. The area in which an indication exceeds reference level but no imperfections can be found shall be re-scanned. Repeatability of the indication shall be cause for rejection.

3.7.7 Records: Retention of strip charts and/ or electronic data from all inspection and standardization runs shall be maintained by the inspection and standardization runs shall be maintained by the inspection company for a minimum period of one year. These records shall be available for review to the customer or its designated representative upon request.

3.8 Electromagnetic 2 Inspection