A Tale of Two Operating Sites – The Difference in Quality of Two FEMI Programs
An Overview of ISO 55000 - Standardizing Asset Management
Composite Repairs for Offshore Pipelines
Corrosion: An Integrity Threat to the Entire Oil and Gas Asset Value Chain
Dry-Coupled Ultrasonic Testing: An Effective, Yet Underutilized NDE Method
Insights Into Fixed Equipment Vibration – How a Piping System Was Affected by Flow-Induced Vibration
Reliability and Integrity – Keys to Survival
The Importance of Selecting the Appropriate Inspection Method
A Roadmap to Spare Parts Optimization
API RP 585: Incident Investigation - If you see something, say something!
How to Effectively and Efficiently Clean Heat Exchangers
OSHA Communication Rules Can Help Control Corrosion
Recording Thickness Data During Thickness Monitoring Inspections
Release the Drones - Inspection with UAS Technology
The Evolution of Reliability: A Q&A with Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton
What Questions Should Manufacturers Be Asking About 3D Computed Tomography?
3rd Party Joint Integrity Inspections: Compliance and Leak Free Facilities
5 Major Fixed Equipment Mechanical Integrity Failures – What Happened and Why?
A Guide to Storage Tank Inspection
Effective End of Useful Life Strategies for Pressure Equipment
In-Service Inspections Using EMAT and MRUT
Maintenance Strategies for Aboveground Storage Tanks in Crude Oil Service
Advances in Inspectability & Validation of Non-Metallic Composite Repair Systems
Pioneering Approaches for Integrity Assessment of Multiphase - Difficult to Pig - Subsea Pipelines
Repair Strategies for Civil Structures Utilizing New Risk Based Inspection Methodology
The Industrial Internet’s Role in the Pipeline Industry
Achieve Comprehensive Reliability by Combining RBI and RCM
Best Practices of Maintenance Planning & Scheduling
Gathering and Analysis of Heat Exchanger Tube Inspection Thickness Data
NDT Inspections of HF Acid Lines in Alkylation Units
Rating Pressure Vessels with Poorly Kept Records
Taking Inspection and Maintenance to New Heights with Rope Access
Testing and Inspection Methods to Improve the Life Cycle of Refractory
The Benefits of Laser-Based Inspection
2014 - A Retrospective - Time to Work Even Smarter
A New Generation of Predictive NDE Sensor Technologies
Carbon Nano-Tube Epoxy Filler Improves Engineered Composite Repair System Performance
High-Energy Piping Systems: Avoid Cracking Under Pressure
How to Effectively and Efficiently Clean Heat Exchangers
Introduction to Reliability Engineering Management
New Technologies Present Opportunities for Pipeline Asset Managers
The Critical Importance of Application Methodology in Epoxy Resin Success
2015 Inspectioneering Journal Article Index
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January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
Challenges abounded in 2014 for the process industries, and it does not look like they will let up soon. But then again, that’s life, as they say. After 40 years in the industry the old adages still ring true, “there is nothing new under the sun” and “the only constant is change.”
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July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Neil Ferguson at HydratightWith the increasing demand for oil, gas, and petrochemical products in a highly competitive market, products and services irrespective of their origin must satisfy customer quality requirements. Additionally, the needs to ensure quality control and regulatory compliance are now more scrutinized and critical than ever.
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July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at IntertekRarely is there a new and unknown cause of a major Fixed Equipment Mechanical Integrity (FEMI) failure in the petrochemical and refining industry. This article briefly summarizes five major fixed equipment mechanical integrity (FEMI) failures from the petrochemical and refining industry.
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July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Robert Frater at Engineering & Inspection Services, LLCRefinery, petrochemical, and storage tank operators are responsible for properly cleaning facility tanks on a periodic maintenance basis, typically in 20 to 30 year increments. This article provides a suggested “checklist” of inspection activities to ensure safe and reliable operations after cleaning.
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January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalThe future of inspection will be based on predictive and proactive technologies that effectively monitor material properties of structures and systems over their entire service life.
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A New Trend for Pipeline Integrity Management: How GIS and Risk-Based Asset Management (RBA) Integration Can Improve Pipeline Management
May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Dylan Schrader at PinnacleART, Tom Pickthall at EnhanceCo Inc., and Carlos A. Palacios at CiMA-TQPipeline integrity is critical to ensure maintenance and operational efficiency; however it is becoming an increasingly challenging task for the energy industry. Maintenance managers and inspectors must make sure their pipeline(s) and its associated equipment meet strict integrity requirements and comply with regulations in order to avoid unnecessary downtime and mitigate safety and environmental risks.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Brad Moore at PinnacleARTOperators in all industries are trying to increase equipment availability, yet oftentimes critical process equipment is not available due to planned or unplanned maintenance. To increase equipment availability, steps must be taken to reduce downtime. One way to achieve this is to ensure that spare parts are organized and available in the event repairs are needed.
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November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at IntertekOnce upon a time in the land of Ooze, there were two processing plants that boiled oil to make fuels and various other valuable petrochemical products. On one side of the river, rests a site called Perfecto Process Plant, while just across the river lies another plant called InZayna Zylum.
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Walt Sanford at PinnacleARTToday, many managers are finding that they can address the reliability of all types of assets by combining RBI and Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) processes together into one comprehensive reliability management process.
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May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy David A. Hunter at Neptune Research, Inc.In recent years, the growing use of composite repair systems for the rehabilitation of piping systems in the refining and chemical industries has increased the need for associated technologies for their manufacturing, installation, and inspection. One critical aspect of these repair systems is how to inspect and validate them for fitness for service. This article covers the testing completed for fiberglass and carbon fiber composite repair systems with specialty epoxy for full inspection capabilities.
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November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Walt Sanford at PinnacleARTMaximizing return on investment of physical assets, while at the same time operating safely and in an environmentally responsible manner is now more critical than ever for organizations within the heavy process industries.
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API 1169 Pipeline Inspector Certification Program – A Case for Why it Should be the Industry Standard
July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Rikki Smith at Oilfield JobsSome hiring practices for new employees have been too lax for too long in the pipeline industry. Pipeline inspectors who have ever worked beside someone who was hired via the familiar “friends and family program,” recognize the need for more stringent hiring requirements than just knowing the right person.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Virginia Edley at Trinity Bridge, LLC.
If everyone in an industrial setting actively looked for things that were not right or seemed different, or looked at small mistakes as opportunities to prevent larger ones, what would the future look like?
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Matt Midas at GenesisSolutions
With the advancements in today’s technology and improvements to Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) systems and Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), if we deploy them properly and in line with best practices, it is possible to reach previously unreachable levels of efficiency, data quality, and meaningful reports.
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January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Matthew Green at Neptune Research, Inc.
Engineered Composite Repair (ECR) systems are moving into mainstream usage at a faster pace than ever. This increased usage and exposure is working to push them into new frontiers and commands a more demanding understanding of their basic functions.
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Combining High Resolution In-Line Geometry Tools and Finite Element Analysis to Improve Dent Assessments
May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Rhett Dotson, P.E. at Stress Engineering ServicesHistorically, regulations regarding dent severity have been governed by one of two metrics: dent depth or strain. In the case of the former, plain dents with a depth up to 6% of the nominal diameter are permitted in both gas and liquid pipelines. However, many operators typically set stricter limits on dent depth targeting those above a depth of 2% for evaluation.
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November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy David A. Hunter at Neptune Research, Inc.This study provides valuable information for offshore pipeline operators curious about how composite repair systems could be utilized with their assets.
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November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Rick Eckert at DNV GL - North America Oil & Gas
Understanding the common factors that promote corrosion threats in the oil and gas value chain helps operators create effective inspection strategies.
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November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Borja Lopez at Innerspec Technologies, Inc.While they is very efficient and popular, liquid couplants used for ultrasonic inspection have some inherent limitations and disadvantages. An alternative method to using liquid couplant is Dry-Coupled Ultrasonic Testing (DCUT).
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July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering JournalAsset managers need to know when repairs and replacement are required for many reasons, including safe operation, accurate budgeting, replacement planning, and on-going reliability. When predicting design life based on a simple, linear corrosion rate versus remaining thickness, metallurgical degradation, or crack propagation rates are often not accurate or realistic. Even if the models are good, things change.
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Gains with Advanced Data Assessment in ILI: Leveraging pipeline data to eliminate risk, prioritize and schedule necessary repairs
May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Ian D. Smith, P.Eng. at Quest Integrity Group, and Michael McGee at Quest Integrity GroupFor traditional in-line inspection (ILI) vendors, considering 21.4 miles of a piggable 4” diesel pipeline is typically not a big deal. However, significant threats like 3rd party damage and external corrosion seem to come with the territory in nearly any pipeline territory.
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy A.C. Gysbers at The Equity Engineering Group, Inc.
The tubes of heat exchangers (HX), whether for a shell and tube bundle or an airfin, are typically subject to some form of nondestructive examination (NDE) to try and quantify the remaining wall thicknesses and corrosion rates to help a plant to determine remaining life or the need for intervention via re-tubing or replacement of these thin wall components.
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High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA): Life Assessment Methods for Carbon Steel and Carbon 0.50% Mo Materials
November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Ralph E. King P.E. at Stress Engineering Services Inc., and Brian Olson at Stress Engineering Services Inc.To ensure the mechanical integrity and fitness-for-service (FFS) of equipment, facility managers, reliability engineers, and inspection technicians must understand the HTHA damage mechanism.
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January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Pamela Hamblin at Thielsch Engineering, Inc.Avoiding cracking under pressure when managing high-energy piping systems is common subject matter in the power industry. Just as high-energy piping can give way to pressure, stress and fatigue, so can the people in charge of operating them when trying to determine what to inspect, where to inspect, and what to do with those inspection results once they have them.
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Partner ContentAIM systems should ensure that the your facility’s MI software is accurately performing the calculations needed to calculate minimum thickness, long/short term corrosion rates and remaining life used to predict future inspection intervals. They should evaluate your MI software’s basic design and corrosion monitoring variables.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Harold Marburger at Dunn Heat Exchangers
This article is Part II of a three-part series that explores the various methods, benefits, challenges and solutions to efficiently and effectively clean heat exchangers, both onsite and offsite.
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January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Harold Marburger at Dunn Heat ExchangersWhether onsite or offsite, the methods for cleaning shell and tube heat exchangers can vary. Refining and petrochemical operators will agree that high standards must be employed with each method. Choosing the right method can make the difference between smooth operations and unforeseen equipment shutdowns.
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In-Place Pipe Support Load Testing & Hanger Surveys – Part of a Best in Class Fitness-for-Service Program
July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Joe Frey, PE at Stress Engineering, Inc., Lange Kimball at Stress Engineering Services, and Britt Bettell at Stress Engineering ServicesThis article introduces portions of a “Best-In-Class” Fitness-for-Service (FFS) program that includes the performance of regular visual inspections of pipe supports and hangers, coupled with in-situ load testing of suspect supports. This program can give the plant engineer the knowledge he needs to make sound operational and maintenance decisions.
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July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Borja Lopez at Innerspec Technologies, Inc.Readers were previously introduced to some of the practical advantages of EMAT Ultrasonic Testing (UT) in the March/April 2013 and July/August 2013 issues of Inspectioneering Journal. In this article, I will cover the practical advantages of EMAT for in-service applications using Medium Range Ultrasonic Testing (MRUT).
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Insights Into Fixed Equipment Vibration – How a Piping System Was Affected by Flow-Induced Vibration
November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Paolo Torrado at Engineering and Inspection Services, LLC., and Dr. Reza Azizian at Engineering & Inspection Services, LLCExcessive vibration is a problem frequently encountered in industrial plants and their peripheral equipment, including piping systems, pressure vessels, and steel structures. Long term excessive vibration can lead to fatigue crack propagation and consequently, may cause system failure.
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January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Fred Schenkelberg at FMS Reliability
Reliability engineering tools and concepts can be used to avoid or delay failures, thus increasing product service life. Design or maintenance teams use reliability engineering techniques to identify failures and their causes.
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July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Melissa Ramkissoon at PetrotrinAboveground Storage Tanks (AST) are essential to any successful oil and gas operation and must be properly managed to ensure operations function in a safe and reliable manner. In this 2-part series, I will identify some common failures related to ASTs in crude oil service and recommend strategies to prevent and/or mitigate such failures.
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Ana Benz at IRISNDT, Michael O. Nichols at Marathon Petroleum Company, and Bradley Baudier at Marathon Petroleum Company LP
This article provides a discussion of a recent inspection performed at a U.S. refinery. Industry HF lines are experiencing piping failures in increasing numbers due to the presence of residual elements (such as Cr, Ni, and Cu among others) entrained within their carbon steel components.
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January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Layne Tucker at EchoRFID, Jim Anspach at Cardno, Inc., and Steve Slusarenko at ProStar Geocorp, Inc.In the Oil & Gas business we have hundreds of event process chains, each of which bears a cost and contains certain elements of risk. So what can we do to reduce our burden and improve our business? Let’s take a look at the current state of affairs and then have a look at some new technologies that may offer us an opportunity to improve our lot.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Marc McConnell, P.E. at Pro-Surve Technical Services, and Nolan L. Miller at SASOL North AmericaIf we could measure, understand, mitigate, and most importantly, control corrosion, we can do a better job of keeping the product in the pipes. To accomplish this task, we needed to know what is causing the corrosion and how to control it.
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May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Vibha Zaman, P.E. at Asset Optimization Consultants, and Peter Dsouza at LyondellBasell
Direct assessment is often seen as the best option to verify pipeline integrity. But, it's particularly challenging due to the difficulty of pipeline access, as well as the limitations in available technology to perform subsea wall thickness inspections. Addressing these challenges requires action rather than reaction.
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July/August 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Gary Mulcahy at Astrodyne TDIThis is the first article of a two-part series to be published in Inspectioneering Journal and will provide a basis for understanding the differences between traditional tapped-transformer, fixed voltage type rectifiers, and High Frequency Switched Mode (HFSM) units.
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Paolo Torrado at Engineering and Inspection Services, LLC.An issue that arises frequently in the oil and gas industry is poor or missing documentation of pressure vessels. It is common in the industry to repurpose old equipment, bring equipment back into operation after a long period of time out of service, or rerate equipment due to debottlenecking of process units.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy A.C. Gysbers at The Equity Engineering Group, Inc.This article addresses a debate mechanical integrity professionals in the O&G and Chemical Processing industries periodically have about how thickness data gathered during a thickness monitoring inspection (TMI) should be recorded.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Nick Harwood at Aetos Group, and Aaron Cook at Aetos Group
This article is intended to provide some helpful insights when it comes to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), and to hopefully put you on the path to safer and more cost-effective inspections utilizing UAS technologies.
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November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Fernando Vicente at ABB, and Khulani Ndimande at ABB ConsultingThis article highlights several benefits of sound reliability and mechanical integrity practices and how they serve as the cornerstone of effective asset management. Moreover, we believe effective asset integrity management is not only important, but essential, to overcoming the challenges presented by operating in the current oil and gas market.
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May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Amanda Nurse at BP, and Josh Havekost at BPAssessing risk is an integral part of working at a refinery. Infrastructure supporting the miles of piping, process vessels, and the platforms and ladders used in daily unit operations are often taken for granted. The Civil Structures Management Program (CSMP) at the BP Whiting Refinery was developed in 2004. Since the program’s inception, millions of dollars have been spent in the yearly execution of refinery structural repairs.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Paul J. Ramirez at NASA - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryThe Quality Assurance Engineer (QAE) provides a safety net for mission-critical hardware. The variety and complexity of hardware, and the many dimensions of the QA inspection process, combine in such a manner that even the most experienced QAE may miss problems.
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Andy Kates at Versa Integrity GroupRope access allows for a wide variety of work to be performed at high elevations or other hard to reach areas without the use of scaffolding or heavy equipment. It has evolved from techniques used in rock climbing and caving to become an extremely safe and cost effective industrial tool.
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Jeremy Wimberly at Sentinel Integrity SolutionsRefractory materials have significantly evolved during the past 15 years, testing technology is much more sophisticated, and the need for test technicians to be properly trained and experienced to use that technology is much more important than it has been in the past. Today, operators know that to ensure at least five to six year run times on processing units, production baffle testing and material prequalification and inspection processes and results are absolutely critical.
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Partner ContentThe Vanta handheld XRF is Olympus’ first full spectrum PMI analyzer that is IP65 rated and drop tested. The analyzer provides accurate, repeatable material chemistry and alloy grade matching in as little as 1–2 seconds. Operation is simple with an intuitive touch screen and swipe interface. Optional Wi-Fi, with the Olympus Scientific Cloud, provides seamless connectivity for efficient data and fleet management.
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Connie LaMorte at EWI, and Jon Jennings at EWIWeld inspection using lasers is not new, but doing it 75 meters inside a pipe or streaming inspection data wirelessly is new. As laser technology has improved, more industries such as oil & gas are beginning to require laser inspection as part of their specifications. This non-contact method can help catch an unacceptable condition before it becomes too late to remedy the weld.
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Partner ContentFFS assessment techniques are applicable to a wide range of damage types: LTA's, cracks, creep damage, dents, and more. These are very powerful analytical tools that often allow operators to not only keep the plant running, but to keep it running safely.
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January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Clint Rupert at Engineered Resin Solutions (ERS)Epoxy products have gone through extensive research and development over the years, and have reached the point that when specified for the correct environment, they should perform exactly as intended.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Jeremiah Wooten at Inspectioneering, LLC.Inspectioneering recently had the opportunity to sit down with Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton and discuss the evolution of reliability in the oil and gas industry.
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November/December 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Mike Brown at Sentinel Integrity SolutionsIt is often best to rely on properly trained and experienced inspection service providers to determine the proper method for any inspection project. Thus, inspection companies can suggest utilizing the most effective and efficient inspection techniques that will result in the highest probability of detection (POD), while potentially saving the facility operators’ time, effort, and capital.
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May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Mauricio Palomino at GE Oil & Gas, Measurement & Control BusinessMachine-to-Machine connectivity combined with advanced computing capabilities and industry-focused software enable a wide range of new capabilities. From smart homes controlled over the internet, to smart electric grids with smart meters, sensors and controls that continually monitor the performance of electric distribution and can self-adjust to demand and outage conditions to optimize uptime across the whole network or a combination of networks, the Industrial Internet has opened the door to a new era of efficiency, productivity, and safety for the industrial world.
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May/June 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Barbara Lasseigne at EnvocWhile performing visual inspections with a pen and notepad is the traditional way to record data, there are now more efficient ways to complete inspections out in the field. Investing in a mobile inspection application can be a great way to save time, reduce cost, and improve safety over traditional methods.
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To Test or Not to Test: A Comparison of the Pressure Testing Requirements between ASME B31.3 and ASME Section VIII, Division 1January/February 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Hugo Julien, P.E. at GCM Consultants, and Serge Bisson at GCM Consultants
Are you still hitting the welded joints of pressure vessels with a hammer during hydrostatic testing? If yes, then you’re due for a refresher on the pressure testing requirements of ASME Section VIII Division 1 since this requirement was for pressure vessels back in the mid 1940’s. This article will help you by highlighting the main requirements of, and differences between, the hydrostatic test for new pressure vessels fabricated according to ASME Section VIII, Division 1 and the hydrostatic leak test for new piping systems made under ASME B31.3.
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March/April 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Nick Harwood at Aetos Group, and Aaron Cook at Aetos GroupThe ability to gain this unique perspective has recently become easier and safer with today’s technological advancements. This new technology comes in the form of a miniature flying machine, better known as a drone or small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS). These systems can be a modified hobby aircraft or highly reliable, military grade aerial robots.
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September/October 2015 Inspectioneering JournalBy Shana Telesz at GE Measurement & Control
While computed tomography (CT) scans are common and well-known as a critical evaluation tool in the medical field, they are becoming increasingly important in industrial settings. Recent automation, speed, and accuracy developments are driving the migration of CT technology onto the production floor.
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Partner ContentHow long does it take for you to receive reports after an inspection has been completed? A week? A month? Does the data come from multiple sources with no way of knowing if it has been manipulated? Traditional inspection contractors do not have the ability to provide reliable and real-time data once an inspection is complete. The only way to ensure accurate, reliable data is with technology.
