Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) has been a tried-and-tested technique in the energy industry for evaluating the condition of plants and equipment for several decades. With continuous technological advancements, Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) combines Engineering, Integrity Management, and NDT Enactment services into a comprehensive package. This has been dubbed as the NDT world's equivalent to the "theory of everything" and plays a critical role in ensuring seamless production continuity under normal operating conditions while eliminating the need for human entry into a pressure vessel.
The Energy sector has many plants and equipment that require Internal Visual Inspection (IVI), which is increasing as assets continue to operate beyond their initial design life. However, there is a shift towards a preventative approach to minimize the need for intrusive inspections without compromising safe and continued operations. Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) is a cost-effective and comprehensive solution that provides valuable insights into the traditional approach of IVI and is increasingly being used as NII continues to evolve.
Moreover, economic volatility has created challenges for the industry, resulting in a need to reduce outages associated with turnarounds and shutdowns. This has prompted operators to look for smarter ways of working, making it more important than ever to implement and maintain a robust inspection strategy to leverage the benefits that NII can offer fully. With ongoing technological and machine learning advancements, NII will continue to provide benefits today and in the future.
CAN Group, with more than 35 years of experience in the industry, was one of the early adopters of advanced inspection techniques associated with NII. Since the early 2000s, CAN has been involved in engineering proof of concept. As a Category 2 Member of the HOIS collaborative project for over 17 years, it contributed to developing and implementing the HOIS Recommended Practice (HOIS-RP-103). The HOIS focus on NII guidance has helped operators implement a structured approach to the NII process to ensure consistency of application.
Despite the challenges faced by the industry, there has been a significant increase in the number of operators who are adopting NII strategies and associated Advanced NDT Techniques (ANDT) to enhance their understanding of the current condition of plant and equipment, thereby increasing reliability and reducing the need for costly unplanned shutdowns. CAN have completed over 200 NII-specific projects, covering over 450 vessels across more than 40 site locations since the guidance was first issued in 2007.
CAN Group offers a full NII turnkey package by providing all aspects of the NII process under one roof, from the Integrity Review / Pre-Assessment to the site-based enactment through to analysis and evaluation of inspection data and Fitness for Service assessments, enabling update/revalidation of RBA at a significant cost saving to its clients. The Inspection and ENGTEQ, its Engineering business stream, complement each other, allowing CAN Group to deliver a comprehensive NII service.
The Future of Inspection Services
CAN Group has been a pioneer in inspection services for over 35 years and remains at the forefront of new industry developments. The company actively participates in a number of forums and joint industry projects to further advance the field of inspection.
One way CAN enhance its inspection services is by utilizing digital twin/3D models. This technology has enabled the initial onshore desktop review of NII work scopes, allowing for enhanced planning of resources and greater accuracy of scope durations. By navigating the asset and associated items of plant and equipment, the technology provides a better understanding of access and location layout.
Furthermore, CAN is fully utilizing advancements in technology to efficiently collect large volumes of inspection data by increasing the utilization of robotic collection systems. The company's next major optimization leap is using data science for enhanced data analytics. Machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies help to bridge the gap between data capture and analysis, enabling smart data for efficient analysis at greater speeds than currently possible with NDT data analytics.
Early Adopters
CAN Group's personnel are key to ensuring a seamless transition to new working methods. The company has an in-house team of subject matter experts in all disciplines associated with the NII process, assuring CAN Group and its clients that the adoption of new methods is delivered to the same high standard expected in all areas of its business.
CAN Group's complementary services, delivered by its Inspection, Engineering, and Maintenance Solutions business streams, provide a full NII turnkey package. From Integrity Review/Pre-Assessment to site-based enactment to analysis and evaluation of inspection data and Fitness for Service assessments, CAN Group enables the update/revalidation of RBA at a significant cost-saving to its clients.
As an established global provider of life of asset integrity services, CAN Group remains committed to providing safe, sustainable, high-quality, and professional services across its range of activities.
