Understanding Magnetic Flux Leakage Signals from Gouges

The Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) technique is sensitive both to pipe wall geometry and pipe wall strain, therefore MFL inspection tools have the potential to locate and characterize mechanical damage in pipelines. The present work is the first stage of a study focused on developing an understanding of how MFL signals arise from pipeline gouges. A defect set of 10 gouges were introduced into sections of 12"diameter, 5m long, end capped and pressurized X60 grade pipe sections. The gouging tool displacement ranged (before tool removal) between 2.5 to 12.5mm. Gouges were approximately 50mm in length. The shallowest indentation created only a very slight scratch on the pipe surface, the deepest created a very significant gouge. All gouges were axially oriented. Experimental MFL measurements were made on the external pipe wall surface (pressurized) as well as the internal surface (unpressurized). The early results of the experimental MFL studies, and a hypothesis for the origin of the MFL axial signal "dipole" are discussed in this paper.