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INNOVATIVE ROBOTIC AND FREE-SWIMMING ILI SOLUTIONS FOR TANK LINE INSPECTION CHALLENGES

By: Contributor(s): Description: 18 p. .PDFOnline resources: In: Instituto Argentino del Petróleo y del Gas, IAPG Congreso de Integridad y Corrosión en la Industria del Petróleo y del Gas 6to. : 2026 mayo 19-21 : Buenos Aires Ciudad de Buenos Aires: Instituto Argentino del Petróleo y del Gas, IAPG, 2026Summary: Tank lines are critical conduits between feeder pipelines and tank farms, connecting individual storage tanks to centralized manifolds. Unlike feeder lines, which are routinely inspected using In-line Inspection (ILI) tools, tank lines have traditionally been considered unpiggable due to a combination of structural and operational constraints, such as limited accessibility, complex geometries, and insufficient flow conditions. Primary integrity threats include bottom-of-the-line corrosion and sediment accumulation, both of which can cause localized wall loss and operational inefficiencies. This paper presents a technical evaluation of inspection strategies developed to overcome these challenges, based on multiple field deployments. Using a project case example, it highlights the use of free-swimming cleaning pigs and ILI tools engineered to navigate non-standard features such as tight-radius bends, back-toback configurations, and unbarred full-bore offtakes. Where hydraulic propulsion was not feasible due to low or no flow, tethered robotic inspection tools were deployed to achieve full pipeline coverage. A combination of inspection technologies was utilized, including Ultrasonic Testing (UT) for high-resolution wall thickness measurement, Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) for internal and external metal loss detection, and geometry tools for identifying dents, ovalities, and other deformations. These systems were paired with tailored propulsion methods, ranging from low-flow free-swimming to fully robotic systems to accommodate the unique operational profiles of tank lines. The paper emphasizes a modular, technology-agnostic approach to tank line inspection, allowing flexible deployment strategies tailored to specific pipeline conditions. Results demonstrate that comprehensive integrity assessments are achievable even in lines previously deemed inaccessible, supporting enhanced risk management, regulatory compliance, and asset longevity across tank farm infrastructure.
Item type: Congresos (trabajos presentados)
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Tank lines are critical conduits between feeder pipelines and tank farms, connecting individual storage tanks to centralized manifolds. Unlike feeder lines, which are routinely inspected using In-line Inspection (ILI) tools, tank lines have traditionally been considered unpiggable due to a combination of structural and operational constraints, such as limited accessibility, complex geometries, and insufficient flow conditions. Primary integrity threats include bottom-of-the-line corrosion and sediment accumulation, both of which can cause localized wall loss and operational inefficiencies. This paper presents a technical evaluation of inspection strategies developed to overcome these challenges, based on multiple field deployments. Using a project case example, it highlights the use of free-swimming cleaning pigs and ILI tools engineered to navigate non-standard features such as tight-radius bends, back-toback configurations, and unbarred full-bore offtakes. Where hydraulic propulsion was not feasible due to low or no flow, tethered robotic inspection tools were deployed to achieve full pipeline coverage. A combination of inspection technologies was utilized, including Ultrasonic Testing (UT) for high-resolution wall thickness measurement, Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) for internal and external metal loss detection, and geometry tools for identifying dents, ovalities, and other deformations. These systems were paired with tailored propulsion methods, ranging from low-flow free-swimming to fully robotic systems to accommodate the unique operational profiles of tank lines. The paper emphasizes a modular, technology-agnostic approach to tank line inspection, allowing flexible deployment strategies tailored to specific pipeline conditions. Results demonstrate that comprehensive integrity assessments are achievable even in lines previously deemed inaccessible, supporting enhanced risk management, regulatory compliance, and asset longevity across tank farm infrastructure.



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