--- title: "TÜV Rheinland: \"Snake\" makes offshore production safer" description: Experts develop highly flexible probe for inspecting offshore well casings and conductors image: https://insights.tuv.com/hubfs/PEC%20Snake%20probe%20(in%20closed%20mode%20to%20reach%20deepest%20or%20desired%20depth%20location%20before%20deployment%20and%20starting%20data%20collection.jpg --- [![TUV Rheinland](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/TUEVRL-516low.jpg?width=388&height=432&name=TUEVRL-516low.jpg "TUV Rheinland")](https://apac.tuv.com/blog) Connect with us [![linkedin](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/linkedin-grey.png?width=24&name=linkedin-grey.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuv-rheinland-asia) [![linkedin_af](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/linkedin_af-grey.png?width=24&name=linkedin_af-grey.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuv-rheinland-africa/) [![twitter](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/twitter-grey.png?width=24&name=twitter-grey.png) ](https://twitter.com/tuvcom_asia) [![youtube](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/youtube-grey.png?width=24&name=youtube-grey.png) ](https://www.youtube.com/user/tuvrheinlandag) [**](https://insights.tuv.com/blog/t%C3%BCv-rheinland-snake-makes-offshore-production-safer#left-menu) - [Home](https://apac.tuv.com/blog) - [About Us](https://www.tuv.com/en/corporate/about_us_1/facts_figures_1/facts_figures.html) - [Contact Us](https://apac.tuv.com/contact-us) Connect with us [![linkedin](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/linkedin-grey.png?width=24&name=linkedin-grey.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuv-rheinland-asia) [![linkedin_af](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/linkedin_af-grey.png?width=24&name=linkedin_af-grey.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuv-rheinland-africa/) [![twitter](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/twitter-grey.png?width=24&name=twitter-grey.png) ](https://twitter.com/tuvcom_asia) [![youtube](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/youtube-grey.png?width=24&name=youtube-grey.png) ](https://www.youtube.com/user/tuvrheinlandag) ![TÜV Rheinland Blog - Insights from Asia and Africa](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/tuv-apac-blog-banner.jpg?width=1440&name=tuv-apac-blog-banner.jpg "TÜV Rheinland Blog - Insights from Asia and Africa") # TÜV Rheinland: "Snake" makes offshore production safer Posted by [TUV Rheinland](https://insights.tuv.com/blog/author/tuv-rheinland) on May 6, 2022 3:26:40 PM ![TUV Rheinland](https://insights.tuv.com/hubfs/Images/TRlogo2.jpg) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![PEC Snake probe (in closed mode to reach deepest or desired depth location before deployment and starting data collection](https://insights.tuv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PEC%20Snake%20probe%20\(in%20closed%20mode%20to%20reach%20deepest%20or%20desired%20depth%20location%20before%20deployment%20and%20starting%20data%20collection.jpg?width=220&name=PEC%20Snake%20probe%20\(in%20closed%20mode%20to%20reach%20deepest%20or%20desired%20depth%20location%20before%20deployment%20and%20starting%20data%20collection.jpg) *PEC Snake can pass through constrictions and sharp bends* Experts from TÜV Rheinland have developed a new probe for inspecting corrosion of the offshore oil and gas wells. The inspection tool features a caterpillar track design, is over 1 meter long and is as agile as a snake. Unlike all previous inspection probes, the "PEC Snake" can penetrate through a 2-inch hole or a 2-inch side valve arm. The highly flexible probe easily enters through sharp bends and can still be moved into tight spots on offshore platforms, such as between the conductor and the surface casing. "The inspection tool has successfully passed its field test in the North Sea and is now available for use on offshore oil and gas production platforms worldwide," said Sergey Putintsev, Managing Director at TÜV Rheinland. "The test results provide operators with important information about the degree of corrosion and the mechanical integrity of the offshore structure and help minimize the risk of well collapse."   **PEC-Snake enables more accurate inspection results** The probe is equipped with a special "whisker" mechanism that serves as a positioning system to correctly position the miniaturized PEC sensors against the conductor and casing. The inspection is performed with pulsed eddy current (PEC) probes and is possible for both operating and abandoned wells. A 90-meter cable nearly doubles the operating range compared to other existing probes. The test results provide important information about the degree of corrosion and the mechanical integrity of the offshore structure, minimizing the risk of a well collapse. "The PEC snake is a major technical breakthrough that enables O&G operators to prevent fatal casing, conductor or entire well failure," said Riccardo Scottini, Product and Business Development Manager at TÜV Rheinland. "Thanks to the smaller access and longer probe cable, the new Sonovation device can be used in many types of offshore production operations around the world." For cases where the well annulus between the conductor and the surface casing might be cemented or grouted, TÜV Rheinland experts use an improved version of the previously used C-PEC probe, which is ATEX certified. This probe has been further developed specifically for accessing the borehole annulus between the surface casing and the intermediate casing.   For more information and a video, visit [www.tuv.com](https://www.tuv.com) at TÜV Rheinland. ### Get the Latest Insight from TÜV Rheinland © 2024 TÜV Rheinland ![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=428209&fmt=gif)