Element adds offshore pipeline capabilities across global platform

Element Materials Technology has significantly added to its global metallic testing capabilities for the oil and gas sector, and is now able to offer cyclic straining and ageing testing for the qualification of metallic materials for projects that involve installation by high plastic strain (pipeline reeling) or strain-based design.

Element’s locations in Houston (US), Aberdeen (UK) and Breda (NL) are now able to provide cyclic straining and ageing capabilities for both parent pipe and girth weld materials. This allows for a more thorough evaluation of those materials that will be subjected to conditions of high plastic strain, using mechanical tests such as Single-Edge Notched Tensile (SENT) geometry fracture toughness testing, and parent material tensile testing. As a result, Element can conduct straining and ageing for materials up to loads of 1000 kN, delivering industry-leading levels of service for all of Element’s clients in the oil and gas sector.

Advantages for ECA

This new capability complements Element’s existing expertise in fracture toughness and tensile testing, and allows more representative data to be generated. The data generated by these tests is used as part of an overall Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) to derive an alternative weld flaw acceptance criterion that replaces traditional workmanship criteria for pipeline girth welds. Used as part of an integrated testing and ECA service, the new capability reduces project turnaround times, and allows clients to obtain the most accurate data for ECA’s input parameters, giving them increased confidence in the end result of the ECA.

Comments from Element

Rod Martin, Element’s Executive Vice President, states: “the challenges in the sector to create more resilient offshore pipelines must be matched by the ability of testing partners to characterise materials more accurately. We are delighted to have developed this new capability to test materials at industry-leading levels.”

“Adding further sophisticated testing techniques allows our global platform to deliver a more comprehensive service in metallic materials testing for offshore pipeline clients. As a significant step towards our goal of becoming the best and most trusted testing partner in the sector, the addition of this capability was ultimately motivated by the needs of our clients for an end-to-end service comprising both testing and analysis.”

Adapted from press release by Stephanie Roker

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/13072015/element-adds-offshore-pipeline-capabilities-across-global-platform/