Ground breaking pipe measurement and
inspection tools from Optical Metrology Services (OMS)

Specialist measurement technology company Optical Metrology Services (OMS) Ltd have added two groundbreaking pipe measurement and inspection tools, to compliment the  company's range of Internal Weld Scanning Tool and Pipe End Dimensioning tools.

OMS' pipe measurement products and services are providing benefits for major oil and gas companies around the world. In Brazil for example, OMS is currently working on two projects, the first directly for Petrobras on one of its onshore pipeline projects, the other working for Subsea 7 on its offshore P55 project. OMS was also asked to demonstrate the Internal Weld Scanning Tool in 2009 to Petrobras engineers at their CENPES Research Centre in Rio, Brazil, which has resulted in further enquiries and demonstrations.
 
Internal Weld Scanning Tool
OMS' groundbreaking internal weld inspection system inspects the internal size and shape of girth welds on pipes that are destined for use in deepsea subsea oil and gas applications. The Internal Weld Scanning Tool is a novel system that internally scans welds inside pipes, both visually and dimensionally, enabling inspectors to quickly and confidently assess the quality of the root weld.
 
The technology can be deployed onshore and offshore at different stages of the pipe welding process. The tool can be used on corrosion-resistant alloy-lined pipe to identify sour (aggressive) ingress points, in both clad butt-weld and clad weld inlay applications. The tool can also be used to improve weld procedure development efficiency and to check the root weld and geometry before next passes are deposited. The technology is also used in fatigue-sensitive applications (SCRs) where pipes are subjected to higher dynamic stresses.
 
The system can be mounted to a purge dam, with an integrated camera for positioning and inspection. Pipe can be inspected whilst being spooled onto a pipe laying vessel or during stalk fabrication/tie-in. Here, the tool is retrieved using a winch-and-wire system, with weld positioning controlled by a camera and precision motorised system.
 
Pipe End Dimensioning
OMS provide a complete range of measurement and inspection services for the end dimensioning of fatigue-critical SCR and flowline pipes, which are destined for deepsea subsea oil and gas applications as well as aiding in the fit-up of land based pipeline projects as recently undertaken for Petrobras.
 
These services include the management of AUT (Automatic Ultrasonic Testing) Calibration Block selection and use; software analysis tailored specifically to match customer requirements; and end-to-end matching (without counterboring) or counterbore parameters can be provided (removing minimum WT).
 
For end dimensioning, OMS utilises its own automatic Pipe Checker laser measurement tool, which is capable of measuring more than 2,000 IDs and 2,000 OD's as well as being able to accurately measure the WTs for each pipe end in less than 20 seconds. This tool is accurate to 0.05mm and enables just 2 OMS staff to measure a minimum of 200 pipe ends in a single shift. This means less time on site, minimising project delays and costs for the customer.
 
The Internal Weld Scanning Tool and the Pipe Checker (End Dimensioning) Tool are both available on a rental-only basis, along with a trained operator/inspector provided by OMS.
 
Optical Metrology Services in profile
Optical Metrology Services Limited (OMS) is a market leader in the provision of pipe measuring products and services. The company specialises in measuring equipment and consulting services for use within the pipe manufacturing and pipeline construction sectors, both onshore and offshore. A key focus for OMS is in the dimensional measurement of oil and gas pipes or other structures such as military gun barrels, processing industry tubes or manufactured cylindrical objects, where dimensions are critical.

OMS prides itself on finding out what clients require and delivering it. OMS was recently recognised by being awarded The Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Innovation Category, the company's second award in 2007 (the first award being the Pipeline Industries Guild Award for Land Based Technology).

The OMS Pipe Checker™ range of tools provides dimensional checks on all aspects of manufactured pipe. These tools are used throughout the world for onshore and offshore projects and in pipe mills.
 
For further information,e-mail: denise@oms-measure.com or view website: www.oms-measure.com  Refer to next page

Independent inspection is key
to oil and gas pipeline installations

The impact of the recent Deepwater Horizon oil spill will result in oil and gas pipeline installations coming under far greater scrutiny from industry regulators over the coming months and years. Dr Richard Gooch, Director of Technology at Optical Metrology Services Ltd discusses how independent inspection companies can help pipeline installation contractors meet these more stringent engineering, inspection and safety requirements.

In the short term, regulators are going to have to consider ways of putting additional controls in place, which oil companies and their contractors will have to introduce and then be measured against, in order to determine whether they are meeting their engineering, inspection and safety obligations. The key issue here is how the oil industry as a whole can minimise risk and ensure the safety of its personnel and the integrity of its drilling rigs and pipelines.
 
Some of these regulations will relate to engineering specifications and inspection requirements, which are both likely to become increasingly stringent. This means that there should be a growing demand for services from independent inspection companies, who can offer the full range of pipe measurement and inspection services to the highest standards, including full traceability and calibration.
 
So what will pipeline installation contractors require?

First, utilising the services of a third party, independent measurement and inspection company, which has the technical prowess and proven track record in oil & gas pipe inspection work will become even more important.

It would also be useful if that same company has experience in resolving any disputes that may arise between suppliers, installers and operators, possibly in terms of engineering and inspection specifications. Some inspection companies also have experience in providing expert testimony and preparing supporting inspection documentation for legal court cases and disputes. The pipeline contractor is also likely to require very clear, concise and informative reports, detailing whether pipes are in or out of their manufacturing specifications, supported by photographic evidence if required.
 
Other services required by pipeline contractors may include very specific inspection consultancy, including onsite inspection surveys. Expert advice and guidance may be required in terms of the effects of delivering better weld quality on pipes, as well as the benefits that would arise from improved engineering and the quarantining of any 'out-of-spec' pipes or parts.
 
Independent inspection companies may also be asked to get involved in Pipe Reeling Trials, Weld Performance Qualification Tests (WPQTs), and Pipe Fatigue Trials, in order to help improve the engineering integrity and inspection of subsea structures. Finding an independent inspection company that can provide all of these services is not easy, but they do exist.
 
Offshore
In the offshore industry, contractors may require independent inspection of oil pipelines. This may involve the inspection of pipe wall thickness to ascertain what proportion of pipes supplied are outside of their manufacturing specification. This type of work involves comprehensive, verifiable inspection of wall thicknesses. Identifying those pipes that are out of their specification tolerance means they can be quarantined and returned to the pipe supplier.
 
Onshore
On large, land-based pipelines, the pipes supplied can sometimes cause welding issues due to a variety of reasons such as bevel imperfections or welding defects. Independent inspection companies are therefore required to conduct multi-site surveys of pipeline spreads.
 
Measurement data of pipe weld defects can be recorded and supporting photographic evidence gathered, including photographs of gauge measurement readings if necessary. Any defect discovered can be measured and recorded using alternative measuring devices/systems, in order to provide comprehensive, irrefutable evidence for legal disputes. Other supporting documentation may include operator details and tools used.
 
Weld features measured can include a variety of parameters, including diameter variations, coating contamination of pipe ends, wall thickness, bevel angle, land thickness, squareness, pitting, excessive corrosion and whether any bevel damage (dents or gorges) was present.
 
Following completion of independent inspection surveys, the proportion of pipes supplied that were out of specification can be reported to the pipeline contractor. In some cases, this has led to the pipeline contractor having to re-bevel all the out-of-tolerance pipes before work can continue.
 
By providing inspection documentation, photographic evidence and expert testimony, independent inspection companies have been known to help pipeline contractors recoup multi-million pound settlement sums in disputes with their pipe supplier.
 
For some pipeline contractors, surveys of pipe end dimensions may be required, particularly if a batch of incorrectly machined flowline pipes are discovered. The complete batch of pipes may have to brought back onshore for inspection to be carried out.
 
What is often required is some kind of sequencing exercise, whereby the independent inspection company advises the customer of the sequence that the pipes should be fitted up and welded, in order to meet the HI/LO specification for the project. In order to do this, the inspection company may have to use or develop custom measurement tools that provide irrefutable approach to pipe end dimensional inspection.

For further information,e-mail: denise@oms-measure.com or view website: www.oms-measure.com  Refer to next page

Solving sealing problems for flow control products

Ball valves, utilising a drilled-through ball rotating in a retaining socket, are widely used for process line control operations within industry. Typical areas of application for these valves include oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation together with pulp and paper industries among many others.

Ball valves offer both flow throttling and full shut-off conditions, while applications can involve an extensive range of pressures, temperatures and even the use of chemically aggressive fluids. The importance of specifying the right sealing products for use within these valves becomes paramount, particularly where breakdowns or plant shutdowns caused through valve failure can be catastrophic.

The specialist sealing company, Dichtomatik Ltd, are able to provide the Kalrez® range of perfluoroelastomer 'O' rings from the Dupont™ Performance Polymers range, which have been formulated to provide superior sealing qualities for even the most difficult applications.

A recent problem application featured a trunnian mounted ball valve used in the gas cleaning/sweetening processes. This involved the removal of carbon dioxide and acidic gasses such as hydrogen sulphide from gas streams, including synthesis gas produced by the gasification of coal, coke and heavy hydrocarbon oils. Gas sweetening is commonly undertaken in refineries, petrochem plants and NG processing etc, where the process often utilises a glycol-based solvent for the acid gas removal…../Continued on the next page.