Offshore underwater structures face some serious challenges: harsh environments and operating conditions can cause fatigue cracking or corrosion, leading to potential problems. That's why it's so important to regularly inspect, monitor, and repair these structures to ensure they operate safely. But here's the thing... conventional inspection techniques face significant challenges when it comes to subsea structures, particularly when it comes to accessing the areas of interest; removing marine growth and safely using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) can be time-consuming and problematic.
Fortunately, there's a technique that's no stranger to the offshore industry: long-range ultrasonic testing, or LRUT. This preferred inspection technique is ideal for situations where access is limited and long lengths require scanning. By using guided waves sent over a long distance from a single collar location, this method overcomes the challenges of conventional inspection techniques. The guided wave ultrasonic testing data provides an easy-to-interpret graphical representation of potential vulnerabilities within the capital asset or critical component under investigation. So, it's clear that long-range ultrasonic testing is a gamechanger when it comes to inspecting subsea structures. Let’s take a closer look!
Read the full article at Eddyfi.com.