ADV INTEGRITY ARTICLES

Technology innovations and advancements are essential to acquiring and maintaining relevancy in the market. It’s also an antidote to the commoditization curve, which can quickly incapacitate companies by slashing margins and pressuring cost structures. To successfully...

Innovation is essential to survival for any company, in any industry – including (and maybe especially) the energy industry. Reputable technology innovations are subject to the Technology Readiness Levels as the new product is developed, tested, and launched into the...

In the presence of non-leaking defects, such as dents, gouges, crack-like features, or corrosion, there are two main options for pipeline repair: steel sleeves and composites. In these situations, there are multiple consideration factors that must be taken into...

Traditional testing and inspection methods of composite repairs are great for telling you about the past or current state of the repair. However, a significant challenge for pipeline operators is understanding what will happen to composite repairs installed under...

Onshore pipeline pressure isolation that is cost-effective and environmentally friendly? What may seem like a too-good-to-be-true possibility is turning into a reality for operators. Ahmed Hassanin is leading a project that is validating pressure isolation...

Integrity management for the aging US pipeline infrastructure looks very different than it did a decade ago. Information, analysis, and depth of data have improved and evolved, which begs the question – has your approach to integrity management evolved with the data...

When a geohazard threat is knocking at the door, knowing the next step is a complicated and frustrating process. Not wanting to overreact, but also wanting to avoid a dig that may end up being completely unnecessary, is a hard balance to strike. In the case of...

Even the smallest of features can eventually lead to harmful failures that can cause serious damage to assets and their surrounding environments. This quick succession of worst-case scenario events is becoming more of a threat as our vintage pipeline infrastructure...

Technology companies are central to pushing the energy industry towards progress and innovation. However, the reality of the data shows us that technology launched in the pipeline industry has a success rate of less than 50%1. Despite the odds, the pipeline industry...

Written by Dr. Chris Alexander, PE | Founder and President of ADV Integrity When ADV Integrity officially moved into our current 17,000 ft2 facilities in January 2019 located in Waller, Texas, we had six employees, one blast box, a single pressure cycle unit, and a...

Every pipeline is exposed to the risk of external corrosion. Coatings are a first line of defense, but no coating system is 100% failure-proof. In order to avoid potentially disastrous consequences, operators are responsible for ensuring the coating system used meets...

The midstream industry is rushing into a new era. Energy is on the verge of a global shift towards more sustainable practices. The forthcoming changes are a function of consumer demand, technology advancements, recent legislation, and fundamental changes to the...

One of the biggest challenges for integrity management in the oil and gas industry is the ability to accurately predict fatigue life of critical mechanical components. Understanding fatigue as a failure mode is straightforward at first glance — components subjected to...

Rhett Dotson and Christopher De Leon know how to have fun with pipeline integrity. As the 20th and 21st addition to ADV Integrity’s growing business (otherwise known as Thing 20 and Thing 21), both bring extensive industry experience and pipeline integrity expertise...

After a high-resolution caliper in-line inspection (ILI) tool is run, pipeline operators receive an internal map of their system that includes various defects and features (girth/seam welds). The number of discovered defects could number in the hundreds for operators....

Operators must address the numerous defects detected throughout their pipeline systems, no matter how benign, to assure a pipeline’s continued integrity. With inspection technologies becoming more sensitive, inspection reports often require an operator to address...

Pipeline integrity management practices commonly rely on various inline inspection (ILI) systems for threat assessments to ensure the safe operation of pipelines. Each ILI system is somewhat unique and provides a vast amount of data which is used to make integrity...

Recently, the industry has identified several new construction girth welds that have failed within the first few years after construction. Despite the welding procedures used in these situations meeting industry standards, these failures occurred as a result of...

Spoolables might be the future of pipelines, but, as with any innovative technology, uncharted territory still exists around various aspects of their application and management. ADV Integrity is conducting extensive studies on spoolable pipe systems to provide...

With the recent addition of David Futch, PE as a Senior Associate and Director of Materials Engineering, ADV Integrity has launched its failure analysis and metallurgical assessment services for operators. For Mr. Futch, offering failure analysis services not only...

Additive manufacturing (AM) is set to become a credible (and disruptive!) alternative to traditional manufacturing in cases involving on-demand, customized, and highly specialized products and/or components. AM can readily and efficiently incorporate complex solutions...

Accurately and efficiently measuring deformation and material strain is essential to understanding material behavior. Even though they are the typical choice, strain gages and extensometers are limited to providing mechanical information at only a single point....

Connecting various industry partners to achieve a shared goal can lead to significant advancements industry-wide. ADV Integrity, seated in the ideal position to connect end-users (operators), technology providers, and regulators, is encouraging cross-functional...

Bridging the gap between operators and innovators is IDT EXPO, a platform dedicated to facilitating connections, exchanging technical knowledge, and offering solutions. On June 4th, IDT EXPO will host the Pipeline Inspection & Monitoring Technologies workshop...

ADV Integrity is leading a Joint Industry Program (JIP) to evaluate the use of composite wrap systems to permanently reinforce non-leaking longitudinal seam cracks in ERW pipe. The JIP focuses on the merits of using composites rather than traditional steel sleeve...

In order to address a client’s specific need in material testing, ADV Integrity and ADV Fabworks have joined forces to develop a customized biaxial load frame capable of testing cruciform specimens. The resulting product will offer in-house testing that is easily...