Sonomatic’s Integrity Services department provides clients with a fully integrated service from detailed inspection planning, through to the evaluation of the results and the creation of an ongoing integrity management plan. The aim is to bridge the gap between integrity and inspection activities to ensure that the client’s integrity needs are effectively met through a sufficient understanding of the real condition of equipment in service.
The Integrity Services department is heavily involved in the fast-growing area of NII, which can be used to replace the internal visual inspection of pressure vessels. NII removes the hazards associated with personnel entry and inspection can often be completed whilst the vessel is online, thus eliminating costs associated with shut-downs. The department’s expertise provides an integrity perspective to the evaluation of inspection data.
Equipment in service may be subject to a variety of degradation mechanisms including, corrosion, pitting and fatigue cracking. It is possible that after some time in service, the condition of the equipment changes to the point where it no longer complies with the requirements of the original design code. This does not necessarily mean, however, that the equipment is no longer suitable for use.
A detailed assessment, based on consideration of Fitness For Service (FFS) following industry recognised guidelines, may be used to demonstrate that continued operation is justifiable. FFS assessments consider the condition of the equipment and allow robust decisions on the continued operation to be made.
