PHOTON BACKSCATTER IMAGING DEVICES FOR NDT INSPECTION OF OFFSHORE TLP RISER, TENDONS, AND OTHER SUBSEA COMPONENTS

The technique of computerised photon tomography offers promise as a fundamentally new method for solving many of the nondestructive testing (NDT) problems encountered in the petroleum industry. An overview of tomographic principles is presented as well as a discussion of recent developments in backscatter techniques that promise to enhance the utility of the method in the unique applications encountered by the offshore industry. The development of a workable NDT system is well within present capabilities and awaits only the design of appropriate deployment hardware for both subsea and surface inspection. Such devices would allow a high degree of precision in determining the structural integrity of critical components throughout their design life.