The old TV camera up the pipe trick

Gents

As happens from time to time, I have a pipeline (slurry), mainly steel encased PE, with a much higher friction loss that what I calculate (3X). It is about 420mm ID 1500m long and runs over rough country, but basically horizontal then inclined, say 1:5, then horizontal and out the end.
Its time to drain the line,and look inside to see whats going on, so I am going to use one of those TV camera things on a motorised trolley to make a movie. The camera cable is 180m long, so I intend picking spots I think critical, breaking a flanged joint, and looking, say, 150m each way.
The whole thing comes with operators, truck etc etc so theoretically all I should have to do is, crack a few joints, sit back and watch the show.
Ha ha.
If anyone has carried out an internal video inspection of a pipeline before, could they let me know any problems they experienced, and any materials/supplies I should keep close to hand (other than a crate of beer).
I have never done a video pipeline inspection before, so technically speaking I suppose I am, ahem,a virgin. Your comments are invited with a view to ensuring that my experience is pleasurable and does not result in tears.

Cheers

Steve McKenzie Received on Thu Oct 31 06:15:00 2002