Exova opens new corrosion centre for oil and gas sector

Global testing group Exova has unveiled its state of the art £3 million corrosion centre in Dudley, West Midlands (UK).

Located in a new 23 000 ft2 purpose-built facility, the centre will deliver a significant increase in both testing capability and capacity primarily for customers in the oil and gas, and energy, sectors.

The centre will also become the central hub for Exova’s network of corrosion laboratories in strategic locations around the world, including the Middle East, USA, Italy, Singapore and Norway.

The £3 million investment is Exova’s commitment to tackling the global financial impact of corrosion which is estimated to cost governments and industry around the world as much as US$ 3 trillion annually.

Ian Austin MP, who officially opened the new Corrosion Centre, and Exova CEO Ian El-Mokadem.

New facility will see creation of new academy for future engineers

The new facility, which replaces current premises in Dudley, will treble full ring testing capacity, see autoclave capacity increase by two thirds and the capacity for routine corrosion testing doubled.

The centre will also ultimately see the creation of an academy aimed at nurturing and training future generations of corrosion engineers.

Ian El-Mokadem, Exova’s CEO, said: “Exova has made significant investment during the last year to further develop our provision of technically demanding services to customers worldwide.

“Our new corrosion centre will play a lead role in combating a problem that poses significant technical, operational and financial risk to industry, particularly oil & gas.

“Dudley will connect a worldwide network of Exova’s corrosion specialists, ensuring that we can meet our customers’ technical and commercial ambitions wherever they operate in the world.”

Global cost of corrosion

Dr Chris Fowler, global director of corrosion at Exova and current president of the NACE Institute, will lead the technical capabilities of the Exova Corrosion Centre.

He said: “The global cost of corrosion, at US$ 3 trillion, is equivalent to the GNP of the world’s fourth largest country, but studies have shown that using existing technology we can reduce this by as much as 30%.

“Working together with industries including the oil and gas sector, we can take significant steps. The Exova Corrosion Centre is a significant investment in combating corrosion and creating a generation of experts who understand the vital role of corrosion management towards combating this international problem.”

Adapted from press release by Elizabeth Corner

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/19092013/exova_opens_new_corrosion_centre_for_oil_gas_sector/