Using Guided Waves Testing (GWT) for the Integrity Inspection of Pipelines

Abstract Since its commercial launching, guided wave testing (GWT), a.k.a. long-range ultrasonic testing (LRUT), has been largely applied in the oil and gas industry for the inspection of pipelines, due to its faculty for screening large lengths of pipeline from a single point of contact. This capability has made the GWT one of the “other technologies” most employed in the integrity inspection of pipelines; however, regardless of its broad usage, industry standards guiding the integrity management of pipelines do not provide a clear framework for the use of GWT, neither do they agree on the role that it plays in the integrity assessment process. For example, some standards classify the GWT as a standalone corrosion integrity assessment method, while others reference it as an inspection technique, and others allocate it as a corrosion monitoring technique. This paper makes a comprehensive review of the involvement of the GWT in the pipeline’s integrity management process and intends to provide a clear framework for the use of guided wave testing (GWT) as an integrity inspection method for pipelines.