The development of a new Integrity Support division means Sonomatic can provide clients with a fully integrated service from detailed inspection planning, through to the assessment of the results and the creation of an ongoing integrity management plan. The aim is to bridge the gap between the 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.
It is heavily involved in the fast-growing area of NII, which allows for equipment to continue working while being assessed, thus eliminating the need for costly shut-downs. The creation of the division is in response to customer demand for Sonomatic to use its expertise to provide an integrity perspective to the assessment of its 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.
In some cases, the assessment may conclude that a piece of equipment is not fit for service under the current operating conditions. Where appropriate, Sonomatic can offer advice on changes that can be made to the operating conditions (such as temperature and pressure) that would allow the continued safe operation of a piece of equipment.
Following an assessment of the current condition of a piece of equipment, Sonomatic can provide estimates on limiting operational criteria. This, coupled with estimated degradation rates allow future inspection strategies to be defined, allowing the equipment to be successfully monitored and operated safely.
