Choosing RT over PAUT but should
you?
Usingradiography on your code welding
project? Most people choose radiography
over Phased Array (PAUT) but should
you? At first glance radiography is a
cheaper service. The price per hour or shift
is generally lower. What about production
values on each? What about soft costs due
to radiation exclusion zones?
Radiography
Radiography has been around for over half a
century for weld inspection in field applications.
Piping 1.5” and larger in diameter is often
radiographed in opposite wall techniques (contact
shot) with an IR-192 isotope source. When 36” and
larger piping is welded, and internal access is
present a panoramic technique is often used for
weld radiography. Entering a pipe to set up a
radiographic exposure is considered a confined
space entry event. Proper training, equipment and
procedures are needed.
RT Set-Up & Exposure Time
The exposure times do not seem to be impactful at first
glance, but the exposure time is part of the story on the
time it takes to radiograph a weld. Contact shots are
relatively quick to set up for a seasoned radiographer,
30-60 seconds between shots when the weld is in easy
access. This will introduce a limitation on finding lack
fusion, incomplete penetration and other linear
indications like cracks. The accuracy of the source
placement is critical and difficult to repeat.
The time to set up a panoramic exposure can be 30-60
minutes. Degrees of difficulty on access vary the times.
As base metal thicknesses increase and/or diameter
the exposure time increases. This slows the
production and increases the radiation exclusion
zone. This zone is where non radiation monitored
personnel cannot be present during an exposure.
This results in radiography work being off shift,
during windows where all workers leave the area, or
the welds being moved to a radiography area and
then back. All three of these radiography limitations
slow your progress on the welding.
► Radiation Hazard
► Long cycle time delay for
reporting (24 to 36 hrs.)
Limitation of ► Less production compared to
Radiography PAUT due less window time.
► Usually not possible to
determine depth of
indications
► Stoppage & disruption of
work area/extra movement of
parts due to barricade
► Long inspection time for high
thickness job.
► Poor data archiving and
handling ( film deterioration
& hard film storage space)
RT PRODUCTION
► RT can be performed only during clearance time ( during
extended lunch hours/crew change time)
► 1 Inch to 2 Inch joints- 45 minutes per joint
► 3 Inch to 8 Inch-20 minutes (Nominal wall thickness)
► 10 inch and above-40 minutes
► All these productions depends on curie strength
( here we considered 25 curie)
Results will be obtained after processing of the film
Maximum of production of 7 to 8 joints of 2inch
joints in 4 hours window time per crew.
PAUT
PAUT can be performed in the middle of the action
as soon as the weld is cool enough to scan. None of
the other work needs to stop. This also allows for
nearly instant feedback as quality control in the
process. Find a problem and fix it before multiple
welds are created with the same condition.
PAUT is faster than radiography in a head-to-head
comparison. A single PAUT crew can equal two crews
performing radiography and this production
advantage increases as the welds become
thicker. Add in the soft costs that have to be
considered with radiography and PAUT for your
construction projects can save money even with a
higher crew cost.
Advantages of PAUT over
Radiography
► Better detection of most critical defects especially planar
defects such as LOF and Lack of Penetration LOP
► No delays or stoppages to adjacent works / Parallel welding
activities etc
► Real-time analysis from smart output display where RT will
take 24 to 36 hrs for reporting
► Faster inspections , High reliability and Repeatability
► PAUT will provide ( Length, Height and transverse location)
information where RT will provide only (Length & Width)
► No radiation hazard or harmful chemicals usage, enabling
Safer and Greener inspection without interfering with
production.
Advantages of PAUT over
Radiography
► No inspection equipment required inside the pipe
such as RT Projector etc and enabling easy access
to welds from outside for complete inspection.
► Digitized archiving of weld scans, enables reviewing
of results anytime anywhere.
► RaData and inspection reports on electronic support
► One time approval process from ARAMCO.
PAUT PROUCTION
► Initial calibration verification of the PAUT setup before starting of
each shift – Maximum of 1 hr. per shift
►Configuration changes will be fast by adjusting scanner curvature
►Preliminary interpretation shall be done during scanning
►Final reporting time - 1 hr. for shift
While all the site activities can be performed without any stoppage
Daily production per crew of 2inch Dia - 60 joints per shift
Limitation of PAUT
► Fittings to Fittings joints cannot be
performed using PAUT
► Painting or coating shall be
removed as a minimum of 80mm
to 90mm on either side of the weld
for small bore pipe to pipe joints
and 80mm to 90mm on side for
small bore pipe to fittings joints.
► Painting or coating shall be
removed as a minimum of 150mm
& maximum of 200mm for higher
diameter ( 6 inch & above) based
on the thickness of job
Limitation of PAUT
Olet Joints
Conclusion
if the project has a high volume of welds. If the
project has larger diameter piping. If the pipe
schedules are heavy. If you are using more than one
radiography crew. If you would like to take
advantage of QC checks prior to completion of
welds. If you would like to not have to worry about
radiation and whether your radiography crew has a
hot enough source. If you would like to have the
crews keep welding while the inspection crews
perform the inspection, then PAUT is the best
option. Save money and reduce hassles. PAUT
should be considered the better option if these
