Definition
Ultrasonic Inspection — Ultrasonic inspection is a nondestructive method that uses high-frequency sound waves to measure wall thickness and detect internal flaws in drill stem and tubulars, providing the precise wall data used to classify remaining body wall.
Also known as: UT, ultrasonic inspection, ultrasonic testing, ultrasonic wall gauging
What ultrasonic inspection does
Ultrasonic inspection (UT) transmits high-frequency sound pulses into the steel through a coupled transducer and times the echoes to determine wall thickness and locate internal discontinuities. Because it measures thickness directly and accurately, UT is the method used to confirm and quantify wall loss flagged by electromagnetic inspection and to determine a joint’s remaining body wall for classification.
UT is also used for compression-wave and shear-wave examination of tool joints, upsets and welds, and for detecting laminations, inclusions and internal cracks that surface methods cannot reach. Its precise readings make it the reference measurement for Premium and Class 2 wall grading under DS-1 and API RP 7G-2.
Where UT is applied
- Wall-thickness gauging — precise remaining-wall measurement of the tube body.
- Weld and upset examination — checking the tube-to-tool-joint transition.
- Internal flaw detection — laminations, inclusions and subsurface cracks.
UT works on both magnetic and non-magnetic materials, making it valuable where MPI and EMI do not apply.
Why it matters for rentals
Accurate ultrasonic wall data is what backs a Premium or Class 2 rating on rental pipe. See our drill pipe and quality program, or contact us for wall-inspection records.