Long-range　guided　wave　inspection　is　a　new　emerging　technology　for　rapid　pipeline　inspection.　In　this　paper,　a　digital　signal　processing　method　based　on　a　synthetic　technique　and　a　direction　control　technique　is　introduced　to　process　pipeline　inspection　signals.　With　this　method,　signals　from　different　directions　can　be　separated　and　structures　including　defects　can　be　detected.　Working　with　an　instrument　developed　by　Petrochina　Pipeline　R　&　D　Center,　this　method　is　already　used　in　inspection　of　in-service　pipelines.　©　2011　IEEE.