T.D. Williamson (TDW) is a global leader in pipeline solutions, providing innovative products and services that help operators ensure the integrity and safety of their pipelines. With a diverse range of technologies focused on pipeline inspection, maintenance, and repair, TDW is committed to offering solutions that improve the efficiency and longevity of critical pipeline infrastructure. The company specializes in providing in-line inspection (ILI) tools, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) systems, and a variety of advanced pipeline services.

Today, we are honored to sit down with Matt Romney, the Product Line Director for Pipeline Integrity at T.D. Williamson. With over 14 years of experience in the pipeline industry, Matt has an extensive background in designing innovative ILI tools and leading the development of advanced technologies. He is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of TDW’s ILI and NDE product lines, which include pioneering systems such as MDS™ Pro, MDS Flex, and Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) systems. In this interview, Matt will discuss the evolving landscape of pipeline integrity, the role of multi-technology inspection systems, and future innovations in the industry.

Matt, thank you for joining us today. Could you start by telling our readers a little about your background and what drew you to the pipeline industry?

I joined TDW in late 2010, transitioning from a job where I was working in the Space industry. This was my introduction to the pipeline industry, as a mechanical engineer in the new product development team. In this role I participated in the development of several diameters of the TDW advanced MDS inline inspection platform. In 2018, I transitioned from the engineering team to product management. As the product manager, I get to meet with people across the industry and participate in the advancement of pipeline integrity globally. What keeps me in the pipeline industry is the speed I see the industry moving forward. It is exciting to be a participant with the entire industry as we explore new and exciting methods and technologies for continuously improving pipeline integrity. 

T.D. Williamson is known for its leadership in pipeline solutions. How does the company stay at the forefront of innovation in an industry that demands precision and reliability?

There are three aspects of how we commit ourselves to the pipeline industry that keeps us at the forefront of innovation. Those aspects are being a participant in the industry, investing in technology, and providing superior customer service.

To be in the industry you need to do more than just support the industry - we actively participate. TDW employees are active members in several pipeline industry organizations and committees. Our participation includes thought leadership; providing subject matter experts to support and promote the conversation, as well as research; looking at how different inline inspection technologies can support or improve pipeline operators’ ability to maintain pipeline integrity. Viewing ourselves as a member of the pipeline industry, as opposed to an organization that supports the industry alone, allows us to better understand the needs of our customers.

A commitment to researching new and innovative solutions to pipeline industry problems is core to our innovation mindset. Sometimes that research involves looking at new technology, other times it is leveraging existing data from existing technologies in a new and innovative way. Either way, as we improve, the pipeline integrity industry is better served when using the latest inline inspection tools and techniques to manage their assets.

Finally, providing excellent customer service is important to us. Where we can foster a relationship with our customers as partners, we understand each other better and ultimately together are able to find better solutions for managing pipeline integrity in a particular operator’s assets.

In-line inspection (ILI) tools are becoming increasingly advanced, incorporating multiple technologies. Could you share how combining different technologies in ILI tools is improving pipeline safety and detection of defects?

The true benefit of combining multiple technologies onto a single tool is demonstrated when evaluating interacting defects. The industry defines interacting defects as the coincidence of at least two features, such as corrosion, the long seam weld, a gouge, or a crack, which increases the overall risk to pipeline integrity, compared to any of the features individually. An example of an interacting defect could be a dent crossing the long seam. The threat to pipeline integrity due to the presence of a dent alone, or the presence of the long seam alone might be low. However, the risk is enhanced when that dent is crossing the long seam. The coincidence of these two features in the pipeline might significantly increase the overall risk to pipeline integrity. Other common interacting defects include mechanical damage defects, a dent with a crack-like feature, or a dent with corrosion. By combining multiple technologies, such as those found on the MDS Pro inspection platform, these interactions are easily identified. Once identified advanced methodologies for classifying, sizing, and assigning a final integrity risk is achieved.

How do sensors like those in the MDS™ Pro systems enhance the ability to detect complex and interacting pipeline threats, such as selective seam weld corrosion or stress corrosion cracking?

The advanced MDS™ Pro inline inspection platform combines six primary technologies for assessing pipeline threats. The six technologies including high-field SpirALL® MFL, high-field axial MFL, low-field MFL, high-resolution geometry, high-resolution mapping, and ID/OD discrimination. The combined technologies provide the most comprehensive inspection of pipeline integrity threats.

Examples of the enhanced benefits of the combined effects of the six technologies can be seen when assessing for interacting threats such as Selective Seam Weld Corrosion (SSWC). The complimentary magnetic field angles from the high-field spiral MFL and the high-field axial MFL allow for detection and identification of the long seam and characterization of corrosion crossing the seam. This corrosion is characterized as either SSWC or coincidental corrosion. While each of the technologies independently will not provide adequate information to perform the assessment, only when combined can SSWC be properly assessed.

Stress corrosion cracking and other environmentally assisted cracking mechanisms can be detected leveraging the MDS™ Pro inspection platform when the feature length, width, and depth meet the specified threshold. Once again, the data from High-field axial MFL and High-field spiral MFL are used in a comparative analysis to characterize the orientation of the metal loss.

The combination of all technologies provided with the MDS™ Pro inspection system are leveraged together to perform the most comprehensive integrity assessment leveraging inline inspection technologies.

We are seeing an increasing use of digital technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence in pipeline inspection. How are these technologies contributing to the effectiveness and accuracy of pipeline integrity management?

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has become somewhat of a buzz word across the industry. While there is certainly a place for AI application to be applied, we should be specific about how and where it can be applied. We have had a lot of success leveraging machine learning techniques to enhance our analysis processes and procedures. Specifically, we see machine learning as an enhancement to POD, POI applications, especially where we have applied machine learning to classification applications.

An example would be the TDW classifier for gouges versus non-gouge features. The classifier leverages a supervised machine learning algorithm trained against data from all the MDS™ Pro technologies to characterize metal loss coincident with a dent as either a gouge or a non-gouge feature. The final analysis and assessment leverages the expertise of data analysts who are trained in this assessment. This would be an example of where machine learning can help the analyst to get to the right spot in the data, but then we leverage the knowledge of the analyst to manage the actual application of the sizing model to the feature.

Looking ahead, what are some of the most exciting innovations on the horizon for pipeline integrity technology, and how do you envision these changes impacting the industry over the next few years?

In recent years there has been a push to increase the resolution of inline inspection tools, specifically around MFL technologies. As the industry gathers more experience with these ultra resolution MFL technologies, ILI vendors will find new and innovative processes and techniques to leverage that data to further provide value to pipeline operators. In turn, the safety of the operators’ assets will increase.

These processes and techniques will help operators manage complex, and sometimes interacting defects, such as selective seam weld corrosion, mechanical damage, complex corrosion, an axial planar defects.

Lastly, Matt, with your deep experience in both product design and management, how do you approach leadership and innovation in your role at T.D. Williamson? What motivates you to drive change in pipeline safety and integrity?

We celebrate the instances where we can identify a pipeline defect that poses a significant risk to the integrity of the pipeline. While this may seem counterintuitive, it truly is a moment of celebration. We identify the threat, and the operator can mitigate that threat before people, property or the environment suffer a negative impact.

Playing a role in maintaining pipeline integrity and safety energizes me as a leader and drives me to continue to look for new and innovative ways to continue to enhance the effectiveness of inline inspection tools for pipeline integrity management.

We would like to thank Matt Romney for sharing his insights into the future of pipeline integrity and the critical role of multi-technology solutions in enhancing safety and efficiency. As T.D. Williamson continues to push the boundaries of pipeline technology, their commitment to innovation and precision remains steadfast, ensuring operators have the best tools available to protect vital infrastructure.

We look forward to seeing what the future holds for the pipeline industry and the continued leadership of T.D. Williamson.