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Institute For Oil & Gas Training
OGI-1315 New

In-line Pipeline Inspection Technologies and Applications Training Course

Duration
5 days
CPD hours
15
Language
English
Next date
02 Nov 2026
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Overview

The In-line Pipeline Inspection Technologies and Applications Training Course from Institute For Oil & Gas Training develops the technical and operational capabilities required to assess pipeline condition, interpret inspection findings, and strengthen pipeline integrity management across oil and gas assets. As pipeline networks become increasingly important to production continuity, transportation reliability, and asset performance, organisations require professionals who understand intelligent pigging, inline inspection tools, magnetic flux leakage, ultrasonic inspection, and modern approaches to pipeline defect detection.

Pipeline operators face a broad range of integrity challenges, including internal and external corrosion, metal loss, cracking, mechanical damage, deformation, manufacturing imperfections, and defects associated with changing operating conditions. These threats affect the structural condition of pipelines and influence maintenance priorities, inspection intervals, repair decisions, and operational risk. Without a systematic approach to inspection technology selection and data interpretation, organisations struggle to distinguish critical anomalies from less significant indications, allocate resources effectively, and maintain a reliable understanding of pipeline condition.

In-line inspection, commonly known as ILI, provides valuable information about the internal condition of pipelines without requiring the entire pipeline section to be excavated or dismantled. Specialised inspection devices travel through a pipeline and collect data about its geometry, wall thickness, metal loss, and other detectable features, depending on the technology deployed. When properly selected, operated, and interpreted, these technologies support informed integrity decisions and provide a structured basis for maintenance and repair planning.

The In-line Pipeline Inspection Technologies and Applications Training Course examines the principles, capabilities, applications, and limitations of established and emerging inspection technologies. Participants explore how intelligent pigging programmes are planned, how inline inspection tools are selected for different pipeline characteristics, and how inspection results contribute to integrity assessments. The course also examines the practical differences between magnetic flux leakage and ultrasonic inspection, including their respective applications in identifying and characterising pipeline defects.

A central focus is the relationship between inspection data and operational decision-making. Collecting inspection data is only one part of an effective integrity programme. Professionals must understand the significance of reported anomalies, recognise data limitations, assess defect dimensions, establish appropriate priorities, and coordinate inspection findings with engineering assessments and field verification activities. The course develops this broader perspective so that inspection activities contribute directly to pipeline reliability and risk management.

For organisations operating transmission pipelines, gathering systems, processing facilities, export pipelines, and associated oil and gas infrastructure, effective in-line inspection supports better visibility of asset condition. It also strengthens collaboration between pipeline operations, inspection specialists, corrosion engineers, maintenance teams, and integrity management personnel. Institute For Oil & Gas Training delivers this course with a practical industry focus, helping participants connect inspection technology with the operational realities of pipeline ownership and management.

The course addresses the skills gap between understanding inspection equipment and using inspection information to support sound engineering decisions. It equips professionals to evaluate inspection proposals, communicate technical requirements to service providers, review inspection reports, and translate defect information into practical integrity actions. By strengthening these capabilities, organisations improve the consistency of inspection planning and establish a more defensible basis for pipeline maintenance and risk reduction.

Objectives

  • Explain the principles and operational purpose of in-line pipeline inspection within an oil and gas pipeline integrity management programme.

  • Identify the main categories of inline inspection tools and explain their suitability for different pipeline inspection objectives.

  • Evaluate the capabilities and limitations of intelligent pigging technologies for detecting and characterising pipeline anomalies.

  • Distinguish between magnetic flux leakage and ultrasonic inspection methods, including their respective applications and data requirements.

  • Identify common pipeline threats, including corrosion, metal loss, cracking, deformation, and mechanical damage.

  • Assess key pipeline characteristics that influence inspection tool selection, including diameter, geometry, operating conditions, and internal features.

  • Explain inspection readiness requirements and the operational considerations associated with launching, tracking, and receiving inspection tools.

  • Interpret inspection reports and recognise the significance of anomaly location, classification, dimensions, and reported uncertainty.

  • Evaluate the relationship between inspection findings, defect assessment, failure risk, and maintenance priorities.

  • Recognise circumstances requiring further engineering assessment, verification, or complementary inspection techniques.

  • Apply recognised industry standards and relevant regulatory requirements when reviewing inspection programmes and inspection deliverables.

  • Develop practical recommendations for integrating inspection findings into pipeline integrity management, repair planning, and future inspection activities.

Training methodology

Institute For Oil & Gas Training uses a practical, industry-oriented methodology that combines technical explanations, inspection case studies, engineering exercises, scenario-based discussions, and collaborative problem-solving. The delivery approach connects the operating principles of inline inspection tools with the decisions professionals make when managing pipeline assets, reviewing inspection results, and planning corrective actions.

Technology-Focused Technical Sessions

Participants examine the principles behind in-line inspection technologies and their suitability for different pipeline conditions. Sessions explore the capabilities of magnetic flux leakage, ultrasonic inspection, caliper tools, and other relevant inspection technologies. Discussions address tool selection, inspection objectives, pipeline configuration, operating conditions, and the information required to support integrity assessments.

This approach helps participants distinguish between technologies that detect different types of anomalies and understand why no single inspection method provides every category of pipeline condition data. Emphasis is placed on matching inspection objectives to the technical capabilities of the selected tool.

Real-World Pipeline Inspection Case Studies

Case studies demonstrate how inspection programmes address corrosion, metal loss, deformation, cracking, and other integrity concerns. Participants review representative inspection findings and consider how anomaly characteristics influence engineering assessment, repair prioritisation, and subsequent monitoring.

These exercises develop an understanding of the complete inspection process, from defining inspection requirements to reviewing the final report. They also highlight the importance of considering pipeline history, operating conditions, previous inspections, and known integrity threats when interpreting new findings.

Inspection Data Interpretation Exercises

Participants work through representative inspection records, anomaly tables, defect descriptions, and reporting examples. Exercises focus on understanding defect location, reported dimensions, feature classification, sizing uncertainty, and the distinction between an inspection indication and a confirmed defect.

The methodology encourages participants to question the quality and completeness of available information rather than treating every reported feature as equally significant. This supports more consistent technical reviews and improves communication between inspection contractors and pipeline integrity teams.

Scenario-Based Integrity Decision-Making

Operational scenarios place participants in situations requiring them to evaluate inspection findings, identify information gaps, and recommend appropriate next steps. Scenarios include prioritising reported anomalies, determining when further assessment is required, and coordinating inspection findings with engineering, maintenance, and operations personnel.

These activities strengthen the connection between technical inspection knowledge and business-critical decisions. Participants learn to consider defect severity, assessment confidence, operating context, and the consequences of delayed intervention when developing recommendations.

Collaborative Technical Discussions

Group exercises encourage participants from different professional backgrounds to compare approaches to inspection planning and defect management. Discussion topics include tool suitability, inspection readiness, data quality, contractor deliverables, field verification, and the integration of findings into pipeline integrity management systems.

This collaborative approach reflects the multidisciplinary nature of pipeline integrity work and helps participants develop a common technical vocabulary for communicating inspection requirements, limitations, and recommended actions.

Organisational impact

The In-line Pipeline Inspection Technologies and Applications Training Course helps organisations improve the way they plan, evaluate, and use pipeline inspection activities. By developing technical understanding across inspection methods, data interpretation, and integrity decision-making, Institute For Oil & Gas Training supports more consistent practices throughout the pipeline asset lifecycle.

Improved Pipeline Integrity Management

A clearer understanding of in-line inspection technologies enables organisations to select inspection methods that align with their pipeline threats and integrity objectives. Professionals become better equipped to evaluate inspection proposals, identify gaps in inspection coverage, and establish appropriate requirements for data collection and reporting.

This strengthens the connection between inspection programmes and broader integrity management strategies. Inspection findings become more useful when they are evaluated alongside pipeline history, operating conditions, corrosion assessments, previous inspection results, and engineering calculations.

More Effective Defect Prioritisation

Pipeline inspection reports can contain numerous indications with different characteristics and levels of significance. Training helps personnel distinguish between anomaly identification, defect characterisation, and engineering assessment.

Organisations benefit from a more structured approach to prioritising findings according to defect dimensions, potential failure mechanisms, assessment results, data confidence, and operational consequences. This supports the timely escalation of significant findings and reduces the risk of treating all reported anomalies in the same way.

Better Maintenance and Repair Planning

Inspection findings provide an important input into excavation planning, repair decisions, and maintenance scheduling. Personnel who understand the limitations of inspection data are better positioned to identify where additional engineering analysis or field verification is necessary before committing resources.

Improved interpretation supports more focused repair planning and better coordination between integrity engineers, maintenance teams, operations personnel, and contractors. Organisations can establish clearer work scopes, define verification requirements, and prepare appropriate responses to identified pipeline threats.

More Effective Use of Inspection Budgets

Selecting an inspection tool without understanding its capabilities can result in unsuitable data, unnecessary repeat inspections, or additional engineering work. A stronger understanding of inline inspection tools helps organisations evaluate technical proposals against their actual inspection requirements.

The resulting improvements support more informed procurement decisions, better-defined inspection specifications, and more effective allocation of inspection and maintenance budgets. They also help organisations assess the value of complementary technologies when a single inspection method does not provide sufficient information.

Strengthened Operational Safety and Risk Control

Pipeline defects require appropriate assessment because their significance depends on factors such as defect geometry, material properties, pressure, loading conditions, and the surrounding operating environment. Training improves awareness of how inspection information contributes to identifying and managing these threats.

By strengthening inspection review and escalation practices, organisations support earlier recognition of potentially significant integrity issues and more consistent coordination between engineering and operations. These improvements contribute to risk-based decisions without treating inspection results as a substitute for engineering assessment or applicable operating procedures.

Improved Contractor and Service Provider Management

Pipeline operators frequently depend on specialist service providers to execute inspections and deliver technical reports. An informed client team is better equipped to establish inspection requirements, review tool specifications, assess data deliverables, and challenge unclear findings.

The course supports more effective contractor engagement by helping participants understand technical terminology, measurement limitations, reporting conventions, and the evidence needed to support inspection conclusions. This improves the quality of technical discussions and promotes clearer accountability for inspection deliverables.

Stronger Compliance and Technical Governance

Applicable pipeline regulations and industry standards establish important expectations for integrity management, inspection system qualification, assessment, and documentation. Training helps personnel understand how recognised standards relate to their inspection responsibilities and why documented technical decisions matter.

Organisations benefit from improved consistency in inspection records, clearer links between findings and corrective actions, and better preparation for internal reviews and external audits. Implementation remains subject to the relevant jurisdiction, pipeline type, adopted standards, and company procedures.

More Reliable Integrity Reporting

Management decisions depend on accurate, timely, and understandable technical information. A stronger grasp of inspection results enables personnel to communicate defect locations, severity indicators, uncertainties, and recommended actions more effectively.

This supports more meaningful integrity dashboards, maintenance forecasts, risk registers, and management reports. It also helps senior personnel understand the operational implications of inspection findings without losing important technical context.

Personal impact

The course develops the technical confidence and professional judgement required to work effectively with pipeline inspection technologies in the oil and gas industry.

Expanded Technical Knowledge

Participants develop a structured understanding of intelligent pigging and the principles behind different in-line inspection methods. They gain insight into magnetic flux leakage, ultrasonic inspection, geometric inspection, and the relationship between inspection objectives and tool capabilities.

This knowledge helps participants contribute more effectively to inspection planning, technical reviews, and discussions with specialist service providers.

Stronger Inspection Data Interpretation

Participants improve their ability to read inspection reports, recognise common anomaly classifications, and understand the limitations associated with reported measurements. They learn to distinguish between raw indications, interpreted features, characterised defects, and findings requiring further engineering assessment.

These capabilities support more informed technical discussions and improve the quality of recommendations made to integrity and operations teams.

Better Engineering and Operational Judgement

By connecting inspection results with pipeline operating conditions and integrity threats, participants develop a more comprehensive approach to evaluating findings. They learn to identify information gaps, consider uncertainty, and recognise when specialist input or additional assessment is necessary.

This improves their contribution to maintenance planning, defect prioritisation, and pipeline risk management.

Improved Professional Communication

The course strengthens participants' ability to communicate inspection requirements and findings to engineers, managers, operations personnel, maintenance teams, and contractors. They develop a clearer understanding of technical terminology and the information required to support defensible recommendations.

Career and Professional Development

Pipeline integrity, inspection, corrosion management, and asset maintenance require professionals who understand both inspection technology and its practical application. The course provides relevant professional development for personnel seeking to broaden their responsibilities in these areas.

Participants strengthen their technical foundation for roles involving inspection coordination, integrity engineering support, pipeline maintenance planning, contractor oversight, and asset management. The course develops industry-relevant knowledge without implying a separate professional licence or formal certification.

Who should attend

  • Pipeline Integrity Engineers: Strengthen their understanding of inspection technologies and integrate reported anomalies into integrity assessment and remediation planning.

  • Pipeline Inspection Engineers: Improve their ability to evaluate inspection methods, tool capabilities, inspection results, and reporting requirements.

  • Corrosion Engineers and Specialists: Understand how intelligent pigging identifies metal loss and supports corrosion assessment and monitoring strategies.

  • Pipeline Operations Engineers: Develop insight into inspection readiness, operating constraints, defect escalation, and the operational implications of inspection findings.

  • Maintenance and Reliability Engineers: Use inspection information to support repair planning, maintenance prioritisation, and asset reliability decisions.

  • Inspection and NDT Personnel: Expand their understanding of in-line inspection technologies and the relationship between different non-destructive testing methods.

  • Asset Integrity Managers: Improve oversight of inspection programmes, technical deliverables, defect prioritisation, and integrity management performance.

  • Pipeline Project Engineers: Understand inspection requirements relevant to pipeline design characteristics, commissioning considerations, and future integrity planning.

  • Technical Services and Engineering Consultants: Strengthen their ability to evaluate inspection proposals, review technical reports, and advise clients on pipeline integrity activities.

  • Inspection Contractor Supervisors and Coordinators: Improve their understanding of inspection specifications, tool deployment requirements, data quality, and client reporting expectations.

  • Maintenance Planners and Work Pack Coordinators: Use inspection findings to develop more informed maintenance scopes and coordinate appropriate corrective work.

  • Technical Procurement and Contract Professionals: Evaluate inspection service proposals and understand the technical requirements behind equipment selection and service deliverables.

  • Operations and Engineering Supervisors: Improve coordination between inspection specialists, field teams, and management when responding to pipeline integrity findings.

  • Technical Managers and Department Heads: Strengthen their oversight of inspection strategies, risk-based resource allocation, and pipeline asset performance.

Course outline

This module establishes the technical foundation for understanding in-line pipeline inspection and its role in oil and gas pipeline integrity management. Participants examine how intelligent pigging works, the types of information collected by inspection devices, and the relationship between inspection objectives and pipeline operating conditions.

The module also explores the factors influencing tool selection, including pipeline diameter, material, geometry, access arrangements, flow conditions, and the nature of anticipated defects. Participants learn why inspection planning begins with an understanding of pipeline threats and the information required to evaluate them.

  1. API 1163

    • Establishes recognised requirements for qualifying in-line inspection systems and evaluating their performance.

    • Addresses the relationship between inspection system capabilities, measurement performance, and the intended inspection application.

    • Provides a technical reference for assessing the suitability of an inspection system for defined pipeline inspection objectives.

    • Supports informed evaluation of inspection technology claims and the limitations of reported data.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Explain the operating principles and purpose of in-line pipeline inspection.

    • Describe the role of intelligent pigging in pipeline integrity management.

    • Identify the main categories of inline inspection tools and their applications.

    • Explain how pipeline characteristics influence inspection feasibility and tool selection.

    • Identify common pipeline threats that influence inspection programme design.

    • Recognise the importance of inspection system qualification and performance evaluation.

    • Establish the relationship between inspection objectives, required data, and integrity decisions.

This module examines the principles and practical applications of widely used in-line inspection technologies. Participants explore magnetic flux leakage and ultrasonic inspection, focusing on how each technology identifies pipeline features and generates information about defects and material condition.

The module considers the strengths and limitations of different inspection approaches, including their suitability for metal loss detection, wall thickness measurement, and other inspection objectives. Participants also examine the importance of matching tool capabilities to the pipeline environment, the anticipated defect types, and the required level of measurement confidence.

  1. ISO 13623

    • Provides requirements and recommendations for pipeline transportation systems in the petroleum and natural gas industries.

    • Addresses pipeline system design, construction, testing, operation, and maintenance within its applicable scope.

    • Establishes a broader engineering context for understanding inspection requirements and pipeline service conditions.

    • Supports the integration of inspection planning with the technical and operational requirements of pipeline systems.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Explain the operating principles of magnetic flux leakage inspection.

    • Describe how ultrasonic inspection measures wall thickness and identifies relevant anomalies.

    • Compare the capabilities and limitations of magnetic flux leakage and ultrasonic inspection.

    • Identify the inspection objectives best suited to different inline inspection tools.

    • Evaluate factors affecting inspection performance, including tool configuration and pipeline conditions.

    • Recognise the need for complementary inspection methods where one technology does not provide sufficient information.

    • Define appropriate technical considerations for evaluating inspection service proposals.

This module focuses on the operational requirements involved in preparing, executing, and managing intelligent pigging activities. Participants examine inspection planning, pipeline readiness, tool compatibility, launch and receive facilities, tracking arrangements, and coordination between pipeline operators and inspection service providers.

The module also considers practical challenges that affect inspection execution, including pipeline restrictions, changes in internal geometry, debris, flow conditions, and access limitations. Participants explore how inspection specifications, operating procedures, and contingency planning contribute to reliable data collection and safe execution.

  1. ASME B31.8S

    • Provides a recognised framework for managing the integrity of gas pipeline systems within its applicable scope.

    • Addresses threats to pipeline integrity and the use of systematic assessment processes to manage those threats.

    • Supports the development of inspection and assessment strategies based on pipeline-specific integrity concerns.

    • Provides a reference for integrating inspection activities with broader gas pipeline integrity management practices.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Identify the principal stages of an intelligent pigging programme.

    • Explain the importance of pipeline readiness assessments before inspection.

    • Evaluate operational and technical factors affecting inline inspection tool deployment.

    • Identify requirements for inspection specifications, contractor coordination, and data deliverables.

    • Recognise common challenges associated with launching, tracking, and receiving inspection tools.

    • Explain how inspection contingencies and operational procedures support effective execution.

    • Develop a structured checklist of considerations for inspection planning and readiness reviews.

This module develops participants' ability to understand and evaluate the information produced by in-line inspection technologies. It examines common pipeline anomalies, including internal and external corrosion, metal loss, cracking, dents, ovality, deformation, and mechanical damage, with attention to the capabilities of different inspection tools.

Participants review how inspection reports classify features, describe defect dimensions, and communicate measurement uncertainty. The module distinguishes between an inspection indication and an engineering conclusion, highlighting the importance of validating data, considering pipeline operating conditions, and applying appropriate assessment methods before making repair or operational decisions.

  1. API 579-1 and ASME FFS-1

    • Provides recognised fitness-for-service assessment methodologies for evaluating identified flaws and damage in applicable equipment and components.

    • Addresses assessment approaches for different forms of damage, including metal loss and selected crack-like flaws.

    • Supports structured engineering evaluations of remaining integrity where the standard is applicable to the component and damage mechanism.

    • Reinforces the need to consider material properties, defect dimensions, loading conditions, and other relevant engineering information.

    • Requires appropriate assessment methods and acceptance criteria rather than relying on inspection indications alone.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Identify common pipeline defects and understand their potential integrity implications.

    • Interpret the principal fields and classifications presented in in-line inspection reports.

    • Distinguish between reported anomalies, characterised defects, and engineering assessment findings.

    • Explain how measurement uncertainty influences the interpretation of inspection data.

    • Identify circumstances requiring additional analysis, field verification, or complementary inspection.

    • Explain how engineering assessment supports decisions concerning defect severity and fitness for service.

    • Prepare technically informed recommendations for escalating and managing inspection findings.

This module integrates the technical knowledge gained throughout the course into a structured pipeline integrity management approach. Participants explore how inspection results are combined with operating history, corrosion information, previous inspection records, engineering assessments, and risk considerations to determine appropriate actions.

The module also examines how inspection findings support repair planning, monitoring strategies, future inspection intervals, and integrity performance reporting. Participants consider the importance of documenting decisions, communicating uncertainty, assigning responsibilities, and maintaining traceability between inspection results and corrective actions.

  1. API 1160

    • Provides guidance for managing the integrity of hazardous liquid pipeline systems within its applicable scope.

    • Addresses systematic identification and assessment of pipeline integrity threats.

    • Supports risk-based approaches to prioritising integrity activities and allocating resources.

    • Provides a framework for connecting inspection information with assessment, mitigation, and ongoing integrity management.

    • Emphasises the importance of documented integrity decisions and continued evaluation of pipeline condition.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Integrate inspection findings into a broader pipeline integrity management programme.

    • Prioritise reported anomalies using relevant engineering assessments and risk information.

    • Explain how inspection findings contribute to repair planning and maintenance scheduling.

    • Identify circumstances requiring urgent technical review or additional field investigation.

    • Develop recommendations for monitoring, reassessment, and future inspection activities.

    • Establish clear links between reported defects, corrective actions, responsible personnel, and supporting records.

    • Communicate inspection findings and recommended actions to engineering, operations, maintenance, and management teams.

Certificate

Attendees who successfully complete the In-line Pipeline Inspection Technologies and Applications Training Course receive a Certificate of Completion from Institute For Oil & Gas Training.

The certificate recognises completion of the training programme and participation in its professional development activities. Attendees are required to meet the institute's attendance requirements for the course to receive the certificate. The certificate does not represent a separate statutory inspection licence or professional accreditation.

Course dates

  • Europe

    Middle East

    Asia

    Africa

    North America

    Online

    Fee: £3,800

  • Europe

    Middle East

    Asia

    Africa

    North America

    Online

    Fee: £3,800

  • Europe

    Middle East

    Asia

    Africa

    North America

    Online

    Fee: £3,800

  • Europe

    Middle East

    Asia

    Africa

    North America

    Online

    Fee: £3,800

Fees include tuition, course materials and refreshments. Need different dates or a different city? Ask about your preferred date.

Frequently asked questions

What is the In-line Pipeline Inspection Technologies and Applications Training Course about?

The course explains how in-line pipeline inspection technologies support pipeline integrity management in the oil and gas sector. It covers intelligent pigging, magnetic flux leakage, ultrasonic inspection, tool selection, inspection planning, pipeline defect detection, inspection report interpretation, and the integration of findings into maintenance and risk management decisions.

Who should attend this pipeline inspection training course?

The course is designed for pipeline integrity engineers, inspection specialists, corrosion engineers, operations engineers, maintenance and reliability professionals, asset integrity managers, inspection contractor personnel, and technical managers. It is also relevant to procurement and engineering professionals who evaluate inspection proposals or manage pipeline inspection services.

What is the difference between magnetic flux leakage and ultrasonic inspection?

Magnetic flux leakage uses a magnetic field to identify and characterise relevant anomalies in ferromagnetic pipeline materials, particularly metal loss. Ultrasonic inspection uses sound waves to measure wall thickness and identify certain defects, depending on the technique and tool configuration. The appropriate method depends on the inspection objective, pipeline conditions, material characteristics, and required data.

How does the course help professionals improve pipeline integrity management?

The course develops the ability to evaluate inspection technologies, interpret reported anomalies, recognise measurement limitations, and connect inspection findings with engineering assessment and corrective actions. These skills help professionals contribute to more effective inspection planning, defect prioritisation, maintenance coordination, and pipeline risk management.

Will attendees receive a certificate after completing the course?

Yes. Attendees who complete the programme in accordance with the attendance requirements receive a Certificate of Completion from Institute For Oil & Gas Training. The certificate recognises completion of the training course and does not constitute a separate statutory inspection licence or professional accreditation.

Next: 02 Nov 2026

4 dates available

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