SGS Conducts Long Range Ultrasonic Testing in Nigeria

Nov. 17, 2009 - PRLog -- Chevron, one of the world’s largest energy companies, was having specific problems with risers due to corrosion and was subsequently looking for ways to inspect the risers without closing the whole field, which would have resulted in millions of dollars in lost revenue.

At this point SGS offered to conduct Long Range Ultrasonic Testing (http://www.sgs.com/ndt-guided-wave-inspection-long-range-ultrasonic-testing.htm?serviceId=10134130&lobId=5550) that can be applied for pipes in operation. Thanks to this relatively new inspection technique, Chevron was able to check the condition of the risers and schedule shutdown for repairs, thus saving costs.

Long Range Ultrasonic Testing, also known as Guided Wave Technology, is a newly accepted Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method (http://www.ndt.sgs.com/non-destructive-testing-methods-ndt) for evaluating insulated pipes, cased sections, road crossings, compressor station piping, buried pipelines, tank dike piping and most piping systems which are difficult to access and which in the past could not be inspected economically.

The Guided Wave Technology screens 100% of the volume of the piping inspected. A typical application of LRUT is the detection of corrosion and metal loss in pipes and pipelines. This technology is particularly suitable for inspecting pipes being in operation, insulated and even buried as this Non-Destructive Testing technique will supply the requisite data while minimizing the need for removing the insulation along the piping.

Cost-effectiveness, safety and speed were decisive factors in favor of performing the Long Range Ultrasonic Testing for Chevron in Nigeria. As the inspection services of risers performed by SGS in early 2008 proved to be a great success, Chevron mobilized the SGS team to cover all the risers in the field, the process pipe work as well as road crossings. SGS is now monitoring all critical pipe work offshore, underground pipe work as well as road crossings in the terminal.

For more information, please contact:

SGS Industrial Services
SGS Inspection Services Nigeria Limited
George Mclean
Project Manager Industrial

Web: www.sgs.com/ndt

# # #

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, with more than 56,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.