Post in-line inspection (ILI) digs are essential tools in the integrity arsenal to validate and verify ILI tool performance and provide data for use in post-ILI integrity assessments. In addition, dig verification can be utilized to validate material properties, increase confidence in feature characterization or even replace previously lost records vital for assessing the integrity of features identified by ILI.

Historically, to fully characterize ILI features and/or verify line pipe material properties, the only viable option was to remove sections for destructive testing/examination. This has obvious disadvantages, but as technology has developed, more advanced non-destructive methods have become available; these can provide accurate data without the need for removal.

A number of new technologies have become available for non-destructive testing (NDT), sizing, and characterization of features and unknown line pipe material properties. An unfortunate consequence
of this proliferation of new technologies is that they often require the expertise of numerous third parties, which can lead to organizational challenges and even multiple dig campaigns.

This paper reviews a number of established, new and emerging technologies for in-field, non-destructive characterization. In addition, it looks at current ROSEN in-field processes, which allow for full ILI indication verification and material property verification to be performed at the same time, by the same team of technicians.