TPi November 2014

work may have already been wasted. The OMS WeldChecker is best placed to inspect after the second pass, so if there is a flaw in the root weld it can be cut out at this point, saving time and money. Another technical challenge is the ability to inspect welds around curved pipes. Many of OMS’s clients use CRA materials on subsea structures, such as PLETs (pipeline end terminators) and PLEMs (pipeline end manifolds). These structures tend to have very tight bends, as little as 1D (1 x diameter) on occasion. Listening to clients and assessing the lack of technology in this area, OMS has designed and produced a new version of the WeldChecker, which has About Optical Metrology Services Optical Metrology Services Limited (OMS) is a provider 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.

the same design concept as a London ‘bendy-bus’, with a modular, flexible design. The advance in hardware has driven the capability forward, allowing previously inaccessible welds to be measured for compliance, guaranteeing they meet the client’s specification. Taking this technology to the next level, OMS has developed more compact tools that are able to fit inside ever-smaller pipe diameters. The capability is now at just 4" internal diameter, making OMS the only company in the world that can inspect welds using both laser measurement and visual data at approximately 100mm diameter, and around bends in pipes. OMS WeldChecker has been successfully deployed in a number of well-known oil and gas projects around the world, such as BP’s Devenick, Skarv and Galapagos projects, as well as Shell projects Gumusut, Llano and Cardamom. Where will internal weld scanning technology go from here? OMS is currently looking at the application of this technology to a number of different situations. One application is to mount the tool to the line up clamps for use in the critical welding path both onshore and offshore during pipeline welding. Another application is the inspection of tie-in welds on welded spooled stalks of pipe; this means while these pipes are spooled onto the vessel, the WeldChecker would be driven by crawler, perhaps 1km, to perform the weld scan. Finally, it could be used on older pipes and structures to measure the extent of corrosion or pitting, or perhaps to measure the extent of features in the pipe wall. The OMS WeldChecker has also seen significant interest from the oil and gas industry, as well as interest from the aerospace and nuclear sectors. Large operators are now asking for tighter tolerances to maximise production life, and also to make the pipelines safer through better welds. OMS provides the solution for both operators and welders – seen, measured, quantified and approved. OMS prides itself on finding out what clients require and delivering it. The company was recognised by being awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation Category. 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.

OMS WeldChecker system for tight bends

Optical Metrology Services Ltd – UK info@omsmeasure.com www.omsmeasure.com

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November 2014 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL