The modernisation was carried out in several stages under live production conditions without interrupting the process flow. The final ultrasonic inspection complex consists of two ULTRAPIPE automated systems ("ULTRA-PE-1420.004") designed for testing the weld, the heat-affected zone and the pipe ends. Both systems of the complex can perform ultrasonic testing using either conventional piezoelectric probes or piezoelectric phased arrays.
In addition to conventional ultrasonic testing methods, the systems implement TOFD and ON-BEAD techniques, which reliably detect weld discontinuities in accordance with the requirements of international and national standards, as well as the specifications of OAO Gazprom and AO Transneft.
The ultrasonic inspection complex has already been successfully certified by DNV inspection to the requirements of the "South Stream" and "Nord Stream" projects.