Grout Integrity Inspection

Several offshore operators have structures with grouted connections, yet a technology gap exists to enable confirmation of grouting presence and integrity. Acoustic Resonance Technology, ART, offers a robust solution for grout integrity inspection and is capable of detecting typical failures in grouted connections in offshore structures.

Grouting Integrity Inspection

Grouted connections are used in several offshore structures including applications such as monopile and jacket foundations for platforms and windmill turbines as well as ship hulls. Damages may develop over time in these structures due to stress from cycling, like voids initiated in shear key area and areas with different grout structure, due to poor installation of the grout.

Reliable inspection of these structures is crucial in order to extend lifespan of the structures with grouted connections and ensure safety. In the past such inspections have been limited to visual inspection of the top area where the grout is visible and no information has been accessible from the grout behind the steel casings in the lower parts of such structures. In particular at the bottom of such structures, where the damage is believed to be most critical, a non-destructive inspection method is of high demand.

Figure 1: Crack detection
Figure 2: Change of density, ρ, between shear keys

The TSC Subsea ARTEMIS™ is an ROV-mountable inspection tool developed for non-destructive external inspection of subsea assets with steel casings. It can be deployed to conduct inspections of grouted connections and provide in-depth analysis of the structure’s integrity by using several sensors, giving a high resolution image in real time.

The technology detects and maps defects such as:
• Dis-bondment between the steel and the grout
• Void behind the steel plate or detecting the presence of grout
• Cracks behind the steel plate
• Density change in the grout behind the steel plate

Some grouted connections are made with so called shear keys, to increase the resistance between the steel and the grout, and with the TSC ARTEMIS™ the position of the shear keys and the integrity of the surrounding grout can be detected.

Our services

Subsea Structures

Splash Zone

Vessels and FPSOs

Flexible Risers

Pipelines

Grouting

Case Studies

Subsea Grout Integrity Assessment with ART

Grout integrity verification of subsea structures is now possible thanks to TSC Subsea’s innovative technology and the development of its unique solution, the ART GUIDE scanner.

Subsea Grout Integrity Assessment with ART

Subsea Grout Integrity Assessment with ART

Grout integrity verification of subsea structures is now possible thanks to TSC Subsea’s innovative technology and the development of its unique solution, the ART GUIDE scanner.

Deploying dual NDT methods for the inspection of complex welds.

Deploying dual NDT methods for the inspection of complex welds.

The Challenge TSC Subsea received a request from a major operator, Equinor AS, to evaluate the feasibility of inspecting subsea risers coated with thermally sprayed aluminium (TSA). Specifically, the inspection focused on assessing the fillet weld surrounding an anode...

Inspecting Concrete Weighed Pipes with SPECTA

Inspecting Concrete Weighed Pipes with SPECTA

The Challenge TSC Subsea was contracted by a client to  carry out wall thickness assessment of Condensate Export Pipeline (CEP) and Pipeline End Manifold (PLEM) without removing the protective concrete weight coat (CWC). The assessment was required as the client...

Subsea Phased Array (SPA)

Subsea Phased Array (SPA)

TSC Subsea were challenged to investigate sand erosion concerns on subsea structure piping off the coast of Western Australia. The inspection campaign covered multiple assets including Pipeline End Manifold (PLEM), tie in spool and subsea cooling skid in the Halyard Field and a PLEM in the East Spar Field.