At IACS, we know the world of pipeline inspection can sometimes come with a language of its own that is full of technical terms, industry-specific acronyms and the occasional bit of jargon you might not expect.
This glossary is designed to help you navigate that language.
Whether it’s a common phrase you’ve heard before or a more unusual term that’s popped up in conversation, our aim is to make pipeline terminology clearer and more accessible.
While we always try to keep our communication straightforward, some terminology is unavoidable, and that’s where this blog comes in. We’ll continue to add to the list as new terms emerge in our work and across our channels.
If there’s a word or phrase you’d like us to explain, feel free to get in touch here.
Glossary:
A – F
Fatigue
The weakening or breakdown of material subjected to stress, especially a repeated series of stresses.
Fault Tree
A diagram providing a model of interactions between the components of a system where a failure occurs.
G – K
Golden Weld
A welded joint that does not undergo pressure tests.
Holiday
An unintentional gap left on a plated, coated or painted surface.
Hoop Stress
The force that is created around the internal circumference of a pipe.
Hot Tapping
It allows for repairs or the addition of branchs, on a live pipeline, without shutting the system down.
L – P
Pigging
The action of process of using a pig (the device) to clean or inspect the inside of an oil or gas pipeline.
Q – U
Slag Inclusion
It refers to when non-metallic particles get trapped in the weld or between layers.
V – Z
Wrinkle
A temporary slight ridge or furrow on a surface, due to contraction, folding, crushing or similar.