Emporia County Non-Destructive Testing Services
Emporia County, VA API 1104
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is one of the oldest and most successful programs that started over 100 years ago. Maintaining over 500 standards in the oil and gas field. One of those standards that Integrity Testlabs has experience in is API 1104. This specification covers Welding Procedure specifications to NonDestructive Testing (NDT) acceptance criteria for the welding of pipelines and related facilities. Integrity Testlabs has the capability and knowledge to inspect all welds requiring NonDestructive Testing Services. We can provide Certified Welding Inspection (CWI), Radiography (RT), Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Magnetic Particle Testing (MT), and Penetrant Testing (PT) needs.
Emporia County Drone Inspection
Using drones is quickly becoming a common inspection method. The biggest attraction is offering a safe way to inspect confined spaces and inspected areas high in the air. With todays advanced cameras they are capable of doing a very good visual inspection. Some drones offer infrared capabilities. This allows the operator to look for hot or cold spots on equipment, structures or solar panels. Smaller drones make for good options to investigate or inspect confined spaces. Larger drones are capable of using or deploying Ultrasonics to perform thickness readings on hard to reach places. To use a drone for commercial purposes the operator must have a FAA license.
Emporia County, VA API 650/ API 653
This is a worldwide recognized individual certification achieved through the American Petroleum Institute (API) testing program. Many individuals that hold this certifications are formal inspectors or welders. API 650 is the specification that deals with new construction of oil tanks. API 653 deals with the inspection, maintenance, repairs and alterations of storage tanks. This certification is highly sought after due to the volume of storage tanks located all over the United States holding petroleum products. These tanks require an external inspection every 5 years and an internal inspection every 10 years. Integrity Testlabs has performed many storage tank inspections. Radiographic inspections (RT) on the welding, Wet Fluorescent Magnetic Particle inspection on the floor plates and annular ring weld. Also Providing AUT scans, UT Thickness readings on the shell and UT crawler inspections on the outside of the tank.
Traditional Film, Computed Radiography and Digital radiography in Emporia County, VA
Integrity Testlabs currently utilizes traditional film and computed radiography (CR) film. Traditional film is still loaded under safe lights and developed using a 5-step process in the back our darkrooms. Once dry, the filmed in viewed under a high intensity viewer looking for defects. Traditional film comes in several different sizes and leaves the client with a physical piece of film to view for years to come. Computer Radiography or CR uses plates that are phosphor. When these plates are exposed to radiation, the plates emit a blue light that is interpreted by the film processor and then transmitted into an image and viewed on the computer screen. This process is efficient and plates can be used multiple times, no chemicals are needed to process the film. Digital radiography is newer to the industrial and keeps gaining popularity each year. Limited in film size and mobility. The biggest advantage is shorter x-ray times, less radiation, wire or wireless capabilities, and instant images that are displayed on the computer screen.
Emporia County, VA API 580
API 580 was developed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) in 2002. It is primarily adopted in oil and chemical refineries for developing programs to track and maintain inspections in keys areas of the piping or equipment that is affected by the process it contains. API 580 is program will keep workers and communities safe from releases or catastrophic failures. Integrity Testlabs has provided support for API 580 by providing Radiographic inspections and Ultrasonic Thickness inspections on piping, shells of exchangers, towers and drums. Radiography provides an actual imagine of the corrosion that is occurring and UT grids can provide a visual by numbers on where wall loss is happening.
Emporia County, VA Visual Testing (VT)
Probably the most important inspection technique and one we are gifted with is visual testing with our eyes. This is a very common, low cost, quick and effective way to inspect welding, equipment, and coatings. Visual testing is the most important tool for a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), It’s a certification you can acquire through ASNT or with your company by ASNT TC 1A. Defects commonly found using visual inspection is excessive reinforcement, underfill, undercut, porosity, cold lap. If able to access the inside or root of the weld its possible to see lack of fusion, or incomplete penetration.
