TÜV Rheinland, a global leader in independent inspection services, said it has reached an agreement with Shell Global Solutions to acquire its Pulsed Eddy-Current (PEC) technology which is mainly used in the Middle East’s oil and gas sector.

The company's move comes in line with its steadfast commitment to expand the service portfolio amidst the increasing customer requirements in the energy industry, said a company statement.

TÜV Rheinland's local subsidiaries in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt offer PEC to the Middle East’s oil and gas industry, especially to companies searching for advanced non-destructive testing techniques and inspections through insulations.

One of the many benefits of PEC is early detection of corrosion in hard-to-reach areas, including surface casings and conductors of offshore wells, and high temperature environments. The service is available globally, including all countries in the GCC region, it stated.
 
The common problem of a wide range of insulated and coated equipment, including pipes, vessels, columns, heat exchanger shells and storage tanks, among others, is their corrosion under insulation, which, if undetected, can lead to significant damages and fatal accidents, the statement added.

"Compared to the testing with ultrasound, PEC requires no direct contact with the object to be tested," explained Fred Gabriels, the managing director of TÜV Rheinland Sonovation.

"Measurements can be done through any material not conducting electricity, including coatings, insulations, weather sheeting and even corrosion products. This reduces inspection costs and can be done without interrupting production process," he noted.  

TÜV Rheinland, he said, has been active in the Middle East’s oil and gas industry, offering a broad range of services including third party inspections, in-service plant inspections and safety and risk assessments and certifications.

“With more than 10 locations in the Middle East and hundreds of accomplished projects, TÜV Rheinland has attained a strong grip on the local market and aims to further expand its service to markets like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Iraq,” said Hassan Fahim, the general manager for industrial services at TÜV Rheinland Middle East.   

The company will be taking part in the Middle East Non-Destructive Testing Conference and Exhibition from September 13 to 16 in Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service