TPT March 2011

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98 March 2011 ›
Inspection, Testing & Q uality Control
OPTICAL Metrology Services Ltd (OMS)
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. Hugh Davies, head of sales at OMS,
discusses how video inspection and internal
weld scanning tools are being used to check
weld quality on pipes and other deepsea
subsea oil and gas structures.
When inspecting the inside of pipelines
and other subsea structures such as valve
manifolds, video inspection can provide
close-up views of features that are otherwise
very difficult to access. Video inspection
enables inspectors to assess a wide variety
of features relating to welds, internal
corrosion, internal structure, coatings and
so on.
Whether onshore or offshore, inspectors
need the best possible lighting and video
technology, as well as a variety of methods
of deploying the video tools inside different
Video inspection and internal weld scanning
from a single source
types of structures. Optical Metrology
Services (OMS) Ltd has a wide range
of advanced video inspection equipment.
This includes the latest pan-and-tilt camera
technology, auto-focus zoom lenses, tractor
systems and motorised cable reels.
Forspecialistweldinspectionapplications,
OMS designs and manufactures unique
digital imaging solutions, which can be
deployed inside hot pipes during production
welding. OMS also offers tool operators and
qualified weld inspectors, who provide a full
turnkey solution. Bespoke designed and
manufactured systems can be delivered to
solve the most challenging client inspection
requirements.
For ‘reeling trials’, OMS offers video
inspection services that can be combined
with laser scanning of pipes to provide a
combination of imaging and dimensional
mapping of pipes or features in 3D.
OMS inspection reports provide
comprehensive independent inspection
records, which can include still images,
video records, interpretation and analysis.
OMS clients can access the best
technology and skilled, experienced
operators to deliver the best possible
video inspection in challenging pipeline
engineering applications, whether in
QC, standards compliance, or in special
projects.
In oil and gas pipes, the quality of
the root pass of a weld is critical to the
structural integrity of the girth weld. Oil and
gas companies therefore have stringent
inspection requirements for checking welds.
However, few if any tools currently exist on
the market that can perform this kind of work.
Welding of clad pipe is especially challenging
and requires accurate measurement of the
weld area in order to ensure zero defects
and to avoid the delay and cost of a weld
cut out later in the welding process.
Using its groundbreaking internal weld
inspection system, in combination with
video-based inspection systems, OMS
offers customers comprehensive inspection
services for checking the internal size and
shape of girth welds on pipes that are
destined for use in deepsea subsea oil and
gas applications.
Optical Metrology Services Limited – UK
Email:
Website:
Pipe inspection services from OMS