Robot X-ray inspectors in Nigerian pipework probe

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Swiss inspection specialists SGS Industrial Services has drafted in a team of robots to scan thousands of welds on the 60km-long gas pipeline between Ikot Abasi and the Eket Power Station in Nigeria.

The pipeline project is part of a $420m investment in to two gas fields in Nigeria by SEPTA Energy, a subsidiary of Seven Energy Group. SGS was drafted in to test the integrity of the pipeline and each of the 5,500 welds that holds it together.

An inspection team of ten experts used a robotic X-ray crawler to analyse the welds. The crawlers are remotely controlled and X-ray the inside of pipes and produce single wall, single image radiographs of the welds. SGS uses a special model which is suitable for pipelines up to 60 inches in diameter.

So far 2,200 joints have been scanned, and the project is due for completion in December.