About the Project
Giovanni Canni and Jochen Giese (PII Pipeline Solutions, GE Oil & Gas) https://www.geoilandgas.com/pipeline-storage/pipeline-integrity-services
Looking for an opportunity to combine industrial experience with a research project leading to a doctorate?
This Engineering Doctorate is a four year postgraduate degree programme combining taught modules and a major research project based in industry with both industrial and academic supervision, which is equivalent to a PhD awarding the title “Dr”. The work is based between The University of Manchester, PII Pipeline Solutions centre of excellence at Cramlington and the UK’s internationally leading Research Centre for Non Destructive Evaluation (RCNDE). This project will be part of Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantitative Non Destructive Evaluation, which is part of the RCNDE. The Cramlington site only 500 m from the national rail network, minutes from the A1, only 15 km minutes from the vibrant city of Newcastle and within easy access to sandy beaches, beautiful Northumberland and North Yorkshire National Parks. The work will also involve some time spent on training modules at the six RCNDE Universities and site work internationally.
Project AimThe standard method of inspecting a pipeline based on magnetic flux leakage (MFL) measurement consists of magnetizing the pipeline to saturation and evaluating the magnetic flux close to the pipeline surface. Corrosion and other defects appear as changes of the measured magnetic flux density (referred to as MFL signals) compared to the values for a healthy pipe. Individual defects are then characterized in geometry based on comparison of the measurement data with the data obtained for standard model defects in controlled pull through tests.
This approach has been successfully used in commercial inline inspections of pipelines for many years to determine the model defect whose data resembles best the measurement data. Due to aging pipelines, the appearance of multiple defects in close proximity has become a major threat to pipeline integrity in recent years. Also, individual defects with variable depth profile pose a significant challenge. The MFL signals measured in the vicinity of such complex defects do no longer match well with the data for model defects, leading to erroneous classification of defect severity.
The purpose of this study is to advance the state of the art in MFL technology to make pipeline inspection as effective as possible and to investigate in how far MFL technology can be used and improved to address this challenge. Advances in this doctoral project will have a direct impact in this important industrial field.
Project OutlineThe interaction of the flux changes of multiple defects with complex geometry shall be investigated from a modelling perspective to gain insight into entitlement of MFL inspection technology to resolve and characterize such defects. A systematic approach to describe complex defect geometry and defect interaction shall be conceived and used to determine the design tradeoffs of MFL tools in terms of detection and classification performance vs., e.g., sensor spacing, signal to noise ratio, data rate, inspection speed, etc. The obtained results shall be corroborated using experimental data from lab tests as well as infield data.
Challenges:
• Familiarization with MFL technology and magnetic field modelling
• Investigation into mathematical models which describe the dependencies between MFL signals and simple defects size/shape
• Systematic approach to investigate and describe complex compositions of simple defects with variable geometry and the expected field level measured in their vicinity
• Validation of expected field levels with lab tests and infield data
• Derivation of a classification algorithm to characterize complex defects
• Evaluation of this classification algorithm in terms of design constraints imposed by practical MFL systems
Research EnvironmentThis EngD project is undertaken in close collaboration with the company PII Pipeline Solutions, which is a GE Oil & Gas and Al Shaheen joint venture. With over 1 million kilometres of pipeline inspected worldwide during the last 35 years, PII’s advanced assessment techniques deliver customer focused pipeline integrity services. Technological expertise, field experience, and advanced data management capabilities help the oil and gas industry meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements, and enhance the safety, productivity and life of their assets.
In addition to obtaining a high quality doctoral qualification, you will gain experience of industrial research and development, a Diploma in Management Science and benefit from a focused Personal Development Programme.
The 4 year programme comprises four elements:
· A doctoral level research project or portfolio of projects
· A Management Diploma
· Taught technical modules
· A professional development programme
The RE will work under the supervision of Tony Peyton, (UoM), Giovanni Canni and Jochen Giese (PII). There will be quarterly review meetings, at Manchester and PII sites at Cramlington to monitor and direct the research. Additional visits to user sites for field work is likely and frequent interaction with the RCNDE community involving annual workshops, intensive training courses in the first two years and peer group of appropriately 12 new EngD students each year. There may also be the potential to spend time at the sites of PII’s partners.
The RE will report on a daily basis to experienced professional engineers, with weekly meeting with the supervisors. The Company is keen to encourage on-site involvement and we aim to adopt a flexible arrangement with the RE spending up to 75% of the available Company time at the industrial sites.
Entry RequirementsApplicants should hold (or expect to attain) a 2(i) or higher degree in Physics, Engineering or Materials Science and be interested in industrial inspection technologies. This EPSRC EngD studentship will cover tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and provide a tax-free stipend of £20K per year. Eligibility is restricted to UK/EU applicants with 3 years residency in the UK.
Informal enquiries may be directed to Professor Tony Peyton [Email Address Removed]
Formal applications should be sent via email, withl a covering letter, a full Curriculum Vitae and the names and contact details of at least two academic referees to Ms Marie B Davies: [Email Address Removed]
Further information: https://www.rcnde.ac.uk/
Applications deadline: 31st July 2017
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