Keys to Asset Life Extension Through NDT

From Reactive to Predictive Maintenance

Traditionally, industrial maintenance has been reactive (repair when something breaks) or preventive (repair at fixed intervals). However, the most cost-effective and safe approach is predictive: using data to predict when a failure will occur and act just before. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is the backbone of predictive maintenance.

The Role of NDT in Asset Management

An NDT inspection program provides the data needed to make informed decisions about the integrity and remaining life of equipment. This is achieved through:

Thickness Measurement (Ultrasound): Regular monitoring of thickness loss due to corrosion or erosion is fundamental. It allows calculating the degradation rate and estimating the remaining service life of the component.
Defect Detection and Monitoring (Magnetic Particle, Liquid Penetrant): Identifying cracks at early stages allows planning their repair before they reach a critical size and cause catastrophic failure.
Global Integrity Analysis (Acoustic Emission): This technique can monitor complete equipment in service to detect sources of active defects, such as crack propagation, providing early warning of developing problems.
Inspection of Inaccessible Areas (Visual Inspection with Videoscopes): Allows evaluating the internal condition of pipes, reactors, and other equipment without completely dismantling them.

Tangible Benefits

Implementing an NDT program for asset management results in:

Service Life Maximization: Instead of retiring equipment based on its theoretical age, it can be kept in service safely as long as inspection data confirms its integrity.
Cost Reduction: The high costs of unplanned shutdowns and emergency repairs are avoided. Maintenance is planned efficiently.
Increased Safety: The risk of catastrophic failures is drastically reduced, protecting personnel, the facility, and the company's reputation.

At Compañía Técnica we carry out the testing and deliver the measurements used to calculate an asset’s remaining life: remaining thickness, corrosion rate and the interval set by the code that governs the equipment.

How we apply this in the field

At Compañía Técnica this translates into concrete work: API 653 inspections and industrial ultrasonic testing, carried out with our own equipment, deployable anywhere in Argentina, and a report signed by a technical representative registered with the Energy Secretariat. The full catalogue of audits sets out the scope of each one.

Frequently asked questions

How is an asset's remaining life calculated from NDT data?

The thickness measured today is compared against the original thickness and the minimum required by calculation. The difference between successive measurements gives the corrosion rate, and from it you project how long is left before reaching the minimum allowable thickness.

Is it better to extend an asset's life or replace it?

It depends on the measured corrosion rate and on the cost of repair against replacement. A programme of periodic testing lets that decision be made on data rather than on the equipment's age, which on its own says nothing about its integrity.