SGS Phased Array Ultrasonic Inspection Debuts in Nigeria

Release

SGS has carried out Phased Array Inspection in Nigeria for Daewoo E & C Co Ltd at the Gbaran Ubie Integrated Oil & Gas Project. Phased Array Ultrasonic Inspection is one of the latest weld inspection methods and offers significant technical advantages for weld testing.

SGS has carried out Phased Array Inspection in Nigeria for Daewoo E & C Co Ltd at the Gbaran Ubie Integrated Oil & Gas Project. Phased Array Ultrasonic Inspection is one of the latest weld inspection methods and offers significant technical advantages for weld testing.

Phased Array is an advanced Non-Destructive Testing Method, which reveals defects hidden inside a structure or weld by testing the structural integrity. This new Ultrasonic Testing technique is based on generating and receiving ultrasounds. Instead of a single transducer and beam, phased arrays use multiple ultrasonic elements and electronic time delays to create beams by constructive and destructive interference.

In early 2008, Daewoo E & C Co Ltd was awarded the contract to construct a gas plant for the Gbaran Ubie Integrated Oil & Gas Project in Nigeria. In order to ensure high quality construction work, Daewoo asked for the support of SGS Industrial Services, the only company in Nigeria offering Phased Array Inspection Services.

Daewoo E & C Co Ltd chose to conduct Phased Array as it offers significant technical advantages for weld testing over conventional Ultrasonic Testing methods. Phased Array generates multiple ultrasonic signals within nanoseconds which produce controllable angles, focus depths and/or wide coverage of an inspection point. Further advantages include excellent repeatability, increased inspection speeds, more accurate results and the ability to inspect complex geometries. Furthermore, Phased Array inspections are much safer to operate within a working environment, compared with Non-Destructive Testing methods that use x-rays and gamma-rays for detecting imperfections.

On May 9, 2008, SGS Industrial Services provided a team of five experts to carry out Phased Array Testing on the Gbaran Ubie Integrated Oil & Gas Project in Nigeria, scheduled to take 15 man days. The project comprised two phases. The first phase involved the Phased Array inspection of 155 joints of heavy wall line pipes and the second phase included the follow-up inspection of 300 joints that were recently welded. The priority objective of SGS’ The successful completion of SGS’ work resulted in the contract with SGS Industrial Services being extended until the Gbaran Ubie Integrated Oil & Gas Project in Nigeria is completed.

To successfully perform Phased Array in Nigeria for the first time was a notable event for SGS, as a major provider of advanced technologies to the Oil and Gas sector, whose objective is to introduce cutting-edge technology into the country.

SGS Advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Methods

As provider of the most comprehensive range of NDT solutions, SGS has a worldwide track record of proven performance in new construction, pipeline installation and in-service inspection and expansion projects. Whether it is for fabrication, pipe manufacturing, pipelines, plant construction, chemicals, petrochemical plants, shipyards, the offshore industry or for conventional and nuclear power plants, SGS Non-Destructive Testing Services provide quality assurance and process safety.

SGS SA

Industrial

1 place des Alpes

P.O. Box 2152

1211 Geneva 1

Switzerland Corporate

t: +49 40 30101-266

f: +49 40 30101-936

industrial.pr@sgs.com

Web: www.sgs.com/ndt