A robotic device and method for inspecting a pipeline to assess metal loss, the presence of defects and corrosion effects. The robotic device is an inline inspection tool that can establish a positional address in the pipeline using known positional benchmarks. The robotic device comprises flexible electronic caliper sensors measuring pipe diameter and an elastic foam body to prevent seizing within the pipeline. A removable PCB enables interchangeable operation with in-kind devices of different diameters and/or with the computers, extracting and plotting the data. The method of measurement may use data fusion between different instruments and measurement methodologies.

A compact subsea pig launcher comprises a tubular magazine for holding a plurality of pipeline pigs in longitudinal succession ready for launching successively into a subsea pipeline. The magazine is shaped to define at least one turn such as a coil around an upright axis. Thus, a series of pigs are stored in longitudinal succession along a path that is curved in plan view around the upright axis. During launching, at least one of the series of pigs is advanced along the path with angular movement around the upright axis.

An insulation inspection device for accurately inspecting films of wires for an insulation state in a short time before the wires are assembled into a core of an armature in a rotating electric machine, a power supply unit includes a first terminal and a second terminal. A support member supports a plurality of wires covered with films before the wires are assembled into a core of an armature in a rotating electric machine, and the support member is electrically connected to the first terminal. Areas of ends of a plurality of the wires from which areas the films are peeled off are installed on an installation base, and the installation base is electrically connected to the second terminal. A discharge detection unit detects discharge occurring between the support member and each of the wires when the power supply unit applies a voltage to the first terminal or the second terminal.

Pigs (10) are propelled forwards by a propulsion fluid in a pipeline (21). The pigs (10) have an upstream end (13), a downstream end (11), and an intermediate section (12). The intermediate section has a variable geometry chamber (16) associated therewith and one or more outwardly extending external pawl teeth (15). The pawl teeth are automatically displaceable outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis (9) in response to a pressure differential between a downstream pressure and an upstream pressure. The pig is configured such that a change in a geometry of the chamber in response to the pressure differential between the downstream pressure and the upstream pressure causes the one or more pawl teeth to automatically displace outwardly when the upstream pressure is less than the downstream pressure. When the pawl teeth are deployed, upstream displacement of the pig is inhibited. Various related systems (5) and methods are also disclosed.

Pigs (10) are propelled forwards by a propulsion fluid in a pipeline (21). The pigs (10) have an upstream end (13), a downstream end (11), and an intermediate section (12). The intermediate section has a variable geometry chamber (16) associated therewith and one or more outwardly extending external pawl teeth (15). The pawl teeth are automatically displaceable outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis (9) in response to a pressure differential between a downstream pressure and an upstream pressure. The pig is configured such that a change in a geometry of the chamber in response to the pressure differential between the downstream pressure and the upstream pressure causes the one or more pawl teeth to automatically displace outwardly when the upstream pressure is less than the downstream pressure. When the pawl teeth are deployed, upstream displacement of the pig is inhibited. Various related systems (5) and methods are also disclosed.

Embodiments provide a method of controlling a flow of pipeline fluid through a pipeline pig that includes a bypass channel and at least one relief channel extending therethrough. The method includes (a) inserting the pipeline pig into a pipeline through which the pipeline fluid is flowing, (b) increasing a differential pressure established in the pipeline fluid between a trailing end and a leading end of the pipeline pig such that the differential pressure sequentially reaches a pre-selected minimum relief pressure, a pre-selected maximum relief pressure and a pre-selected minimum bypass pressure, (c) opening the at least one relief valve to permit the pipeline fluid to flow through the relief channel when the differential pressure reaches the pre-selected minimum relief pressure (d) closing the at least one relief valve to restrict the flow of pipeline fluid through the relief channel when the differential pressure reaches a pre-selected maximum relief pressure, and (e) opening a bypass valve to permit the pipeline fluid to flow through the bypass channel when the differential pressure reaches the pre-selected minimum bypass pressure.

A system and method is provided for traversing inside one or more pipes. In an embodiment, a fluid is injected into the one or more pipes thereby promoting a fluid flow. An inspection device is deployed into the one or more pipes at least partially filled with a flowing fluid. The inspection device comprises a housing wherein the housing is designed to exploit the hydrokinetic effects associated with a fluid flow in one or more pipes as well as maneuver past a variety of pipe configurations. The inspection device may contain one or more sensors capable of performing a variety of inspection tasks.

A system and method is provided for traversing inside one or more pipes. In an embodiment, a fluid is injected into the one or more pipes thereby promoting a fluid flow. An inspection device is deployed into the one or more pipes at least partially filled with a flowing fluid. The inspection device comprises a housing wherein the housing is designed to exploit the hydrokinetic effects associated with a fluid flow in one or more pipes as well as maneuver past a variety of pipe configurations. The inspection device may contain one or more sensors capable of performing a variety of inspection tasks.

A pipeline inspection apparatus includes a main body. A sealing structure attached to the main body seals against an internal surface of the pipeline. An imaging module includes a camera and a light source. The light source is arranged to emit light in a direction towards the internal surface of the pipeline. The camera is arranged such that, in use, the camera captures image data of the internal surface of the pipeline. Control circuitry includes a power supply and memory for storing data captured by said camera, wherein the sealing structure forms a seal against the internal surface of the pipeline such that, in use, a fluid flowing along the pipeline applies a driving force to the pipeline inspection apparatus to propel the apparatus along the pipeline.