Stress corrosion defects often cause pipeline accidents. Metal loss defects are characterized by rather smooth edges, and stress corrosion cracks are cracks external surface of surface of the pipe. Typically the cracks are oriented along the pipeline's axis.

In-line inspection with magnetic inspection tools of transverse magnetization allows to detect  stress-corrosion cracking anomalies and pipeline corrosion and as a result reduces operational risks. Additionally, high sensitivity allows detecting and sizing such defects as: metal loss, longitudinal cracks and anomalies of longitudinal welds, geometry defects (including those with additional defects).