ANALYSE™ System: an improved risk-based inspection (RBI) solution

The Challenges of Risk Based Inspections (RBIs)

RBI is a valuable and well-established method for managing pressure system integrity. Despite its importance, Risk-Based Inspection heavily depends on accurate wall thickness loss measurements. Unfortunately, Ultrasonic Thickness Measurements (UTM) often come with built-in errors that obscure critical wall loss trends.

Over a 7-year programme analysing 14 assets, data revealed that out of every 100 UTM readings, fewer than 2 readings posed a genuine integrity threat. This highlights the need for more efficient anomaly detection in UTM strategies to enhance cost-effectiveness while ensuring integrity assurance. 

To achieve significant reductions in the number of inspection points without compromising safety, it is essential to adopt advanced techniques and tools that precisely identify which inspection points to eliminate.

The Solution: EM&I’s ANALYSE System

This system revolutionises Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) strategies for asset integrity management. This patented technology employs advanced statistical analysis of Ultrasonic Thickness Measurements (UTM) data sets to accurately calculate the probable minimum thickness of corrosion circuits.

Key features of the ANALYSE™ System

• Efficient data collection: Requires less than 50% of traditional UTM readings

• Real-time analysis: Instantly identifies problem areas and corrosion patterns

• Improved accuracy: Maintains and enhances integrity assurance of UTM data

• Early detection: Provides insights into the onset of localised corrosion and erosion

• Optimised inspections: Streamlines RBI scope and location selection

What are the system steps?

1. Optimise RBA scope and select relevant inspection locations
2. Technician collects UTMs and inputs to the ANALYSE handheld 
3. As soon as ANALYSE has enough data to calculate the minimum probable thickness and with the agreed confidence level, no further UTMs are required. 
4. ANALYSE identifies problem areas, and corrosion patterns and alerts the technician and the integrity engineer. 

In this way ANALYSE not only maintains, but improves the integrity assurance of UTM data, with a quantified confidence level and insights into the early onset of localised corrosion, erosion and wall loss.

The benefits of this Risk Based Inspection approach

By leveraging this RBI Improved approach, asset managers can significantly reduce inspection costs while improving the reliability of corrosion assessments. This cutting-edge system aligns with EM&I’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions for pressure systems, structures, and hazardous area equipment across the oil, gas, and marine industries.  

These are some benefits of this system: 

• Advanced RBI Optimisation: ANALYSE enhances traditional Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) methods, reducing inspection scopes by up to 50% and minimising the conventional number of UTMs
• Cost-Effective Integrity Management: Significantly reduce inspection costs while improving safety and lowering carbon emissions through decreased Personnel on Board (POB).
• Efficient Resource Allocation: Reallocate resources to critical inspection, repair, and maintenance activities, optimising overall asset integrity management.
• Enhanced Integrity Assurance: Improve confidence in asset integrity with quantified confidence levels for minimum wall thickness readings, ensuring more accurate and reliable assessments.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverage advanced statistical analysis to make informed choices about asset maintenance and replacement strategies.
• Regulatory Compliance: Meet and exceed industry standards for asset integrity management with ANALYSE’s innovative approach to inspection and maintenance.

Is this approach proven?

The statistical analysis methods behind the ANALYSE system have been reviewed and are independently endorsed by the Imperial College London statistical department. The System itself has also been successfully piloted with several Oil and Gas Majors, achieving 50% to 72% reductions in required UTMs.

EM&I’s ANALYSE system is also integrated into the RBA and Annual Piping Inspections for a Fleet of 13 FPSOs across the world.

Discover how ANALYSE can transform your asset integrity management approach. Contact us today for a consultation on implementing this technology in your operations.