TÜV Rheinland: "Snake" makes offshore production safer

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May 05, 2022, 08:30 ET

Experts develop highly flexible probe for inspecting offshore well casings and conductors / PEC Snake can pass through constrictions and sharp bends / Highly flexible probe for inspecting offshore wells

LITTLETON, Mass., May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Experts from TÜV Rheinland have developed a new probe for inspecting corrosion of the offshore oil and gas wells. The inspection tool features a caterpillar track design, is over 1 meter long and is as agile as a snake. Unlike all previous inspection probes, the "PEC Snake" can penetrate through a 2-inch hole or a 2-inch side valve arm. The highly flexible probe easily enters through sharp bends and can still be moved into tight spots on offshore platforms, such as between the conductor and the surface casing.

"The inspection tool has successfully passed its field test in the North Sea and is now available for use on offshore oil and gas production platforms worldwide," said Sergey Putintsev, Managing Director at TÜV Rheinland. "The test results provide operators with important information about the degree of corrosion and the mechanical integrity of the offshore structure and help minimize the risk of well collapse."

PEC-Snake enables more accurate inspection results
The probe is equipped with a special "whisker" mechanism that serves as a positioning system to correctly position the miniaturized PEC sensors against the conductor and casing. The inspection is performed with pulsed eddy current (PEC) probes and is possible for both operating and abandoned wells. A 90-meter cable nearly doubles the operating range compared to other existing probes. The test results provide important information about the degree of corrosion and the mechanical integrity of the offshore structure, minimizing the risk of a well collapse.

"The PEC snake is a major technical breakthrough that enables O&G operators to prevent fatal casing, conductor or entire well failure," said Riccardo Scottini, Product and Business Development Manager at TÜV Rheinland. "Thanks to the smaller access and longer probe cable, the new Sonovation device can be used in many types of offshore production operations around the world."

For cases where the well annulus between the conductor and the surface casing might be cemented or grouted, TÜV Rheinland experts use an improved version of the previously used C-PEC probe, which is ATEX certified. This probe has been further developed specifically for accessing the borehole annulus between the surface casing and the intermediate casing.

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About TÜV Rheinland
150 years of safety: Since 1872, TÜV Rheinland's mission has been to make technology safe for people and the environment. From the steam engine to digitalization, the erstwhile "Verein zur Überwachung der Dampfkessel in den Kreisen Elberfeld und Barmen" (Association for the Inspection of Steam Boilers in the Districts of Elberfeld and Barmen) has evolved into a global testing service provider ensuring safety and quality in virtually all areas of business and life. This responsibility is now shared by more than 20,000 employees, who generate annual revenues of around EUR 2.1 billion. Around the globe, experts from TÜV Rheinland test technical systems and products, support innovations in technology and industry, train personnel in a wide range of professions, and certify management systems according to international standards. With safety and sustainability, TÜV Rheinland is also shaping the future. Since 2006, TÜV Rheinland has therefore been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website: www.tuv.com

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SOURCE TUV Rheinland