In the ever-evolving offshore energy sector, the integrity of subsea pipelines remains a fundamental priority and a growing challenge. As operations venture into deeper and harsher environments, maintaining pipeline health over its full lifecycle has become increasingly complex. With risks such as corrosion, flow restrictions, and limited inspection access threatening both performance and safety, operators are turning to smarter, more proactive methods to manage these subsea assets.
The pressure of performance at depth
Subsea pipelines face a range of threats over time, particularly in deepwater environments where long tiebacks and shifting conditions are the norm. Flow assurance is often compromised by hydrate formation, wax and asphaltene build-up, or mineral scaling. Each of these issues can reduce flow rates or lead to complete blockages if not addressed in time.
While traditional pigging and mechanical methods remain in use, they can be costly, risky, and even impossible in unpiggable systems with complex configurations or internal deposits. This makes innovative, non-intrusive inspection tools increasingly attractive.
Diagnosing without disruption
Complementing Discovery™, Explorer™ offers a rapid screening solution for subsea pipelines, detecting the location of deposits causing flow assurance issues. Capable of scanning pipelines at speeds up to 100 metres per hour, Explorer™ enables operators to survey extensive pipeline sections efficiently. Once potential blockages are identified, Discovery™ can be deployed for detailed characterisation, providing a comprehensive understanding of the pipeline's condition.
Tracerco’s Explorer™ tool deployed on a subsea pipeline during an inspection campaign.
Diagnosing blockages: real-world success stories
Inline Inspection (ILI) tools are standard for detecting internal anomalies like corrosion or wall thinning. However, not all subsea pipelines can accommodate them. This is where non-destructive, external diagnostics come into play—allowing operators to monitor internal conditions, assess wall thickness, and pinpoint areas of concern without interrupting operations or removing protective coatings.
Technologies such as Tracerco’s Discovery™ are leading this shift. By providing detailed, real-time imaging and wall loss assessments, they offer unprecedented visibility into otherwise inaccessible subsea infrastructure. These capabilities are enhancing the value and effectiveness of modern pipeline inspection services.
Tracerco’s Discovery™ tool deployed on a subsea pipeline during an inspection campaign.
Real-time intelligence drives better decisions
The ability to capture real-time data has transformed how operators make decisions. With accurate insights into internal pipeline conditions, engineers can prioritize maintenance, avoid unnecessary interventions, and extend asset life.
A real-world example: Gulf of Mexico
In a recent case in the Gulf of Mexico, a major global operator deployed Discovery™ to scan subsea jumpers and risers at depths beyond 4,000 feet. The system was considered unpiggable, and concerns about internal deposition were increasing. The objective was clear: determine whether the buildup could be removed or if replacement was necessary.
The non-intrusive inspection tools identified up to 70% bore blockage due to scale in a critical jumper and 35% wall loss in a corroded SCR. These insights enabled the operator to plan targeted replacements and preventive strategies without disrupting production or requiring invasive intervention.
The future is non-intrusive
As the industry aims to balance operational efficiency with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments, non-intrusive technologies offer a path forward. They reduce environmental impact by avoiding vessel callouts, provide higher-quality data for risk modelling, and align with digital transformation goals.
With continued advancements in imaging resolution and data analytics, non-intrusive inspection is poised to become an industry standard for safeguarding offshore infrastructure. These methods strengthen pipeline inspection capabilities, improve long-term flow assurance, and protect critical subsea assets. In doing so, they help energy companies operate more efficiently, safely, and sustainably.
Download our whitepaper today and learn more about how using real-time data insights from DiscoveryTM can help to make decisions on extending the lifespan of a pipeline past its original design life.
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