MISTRAS supports upstream exploration and production (E&P) activities in the oil & gas industry with specialized inspection, maintenance, monitoring, data management, and access solutions.
Because the upstream sector of the oil & gas industry is responsible for identifying and extracting crude oil that can be further processed and refined for widespread distribution, upstream operations come with some inherent safety risks to people and the environment.
MISTRAS provides inspection services on both onshore and offshore exploration & production (E&P) assets in order to ensure that assets, equipment, and related componentry remain free of defects and damage. MISTRAS technicians are trained and certified to perform non-destructive testing (NDT) services on assets in any location, including:
- Drilling Equipment
- Exploration Vessels
- Offshore Platforms and Related Componentry
- Pipelines
- Piping
- Pumps
- Storage Tanks
As a raw material, crude oil can be a huge hazard if handled incorrectly. Oil leaked during any part of the exploration & production process can have catastrophic effects for assets, the surrounding environment, and facility personnel, especially if leaks go undetected for long periods of time.
Our asset protection solutions help offshore rigs remain in compliance with regulatory and environmental standards, and help to optimize inspection and maintenance spending by ensuring continuously safe and efficient operations. MISTRAS inspects assets without the need for disassembly or relocation, helping your upstream facility continue operation while avoiding the risk of accident or failure.
Exploration Vessel and Drilling Componentry Inspection Services
MISTRAS provides inspection and maintenance services for the exploration vessels and drilling equipment that identify crude oil reservoirs for further collection and processing.
Cracking, corrosion, wall thinning, and other flaws can lead to leaking, structural insecurity, and other damages in vessel structure and componentry. Using multiple NDT techniques, including advanced acoustic emission (AE) technology, technicians can detect flaws in exploration vessels and drilling equipment before more serious damage occurs, performing inspection and monitoring services including:
- Hull Coating and Cleaning
- Initial Proof Test
- In-Service Monitoring
- Monitoring Installation Services
- Leak Detection
- Mechanical Integrity Inspection
- Requalification Test
- Tube Inspection
- Welding Process
AE inspection services can determine the amount of load and stress being placed on various vessel componentry so operators can anticipate damage before it occurs, performing in-depth hull structure stress analysis testing to determine:
- Loading/Unloading Condition
- Sea State
- Static and Dynamic Stress Influence
- Strain Information
MISTRAS also performs inspection work for onshore upstream facilities. Typical on-site work includes pipeline coating assessments, guided wave soil-to-air inspection points, and API 510 and API 570 inspections, along with documenting well-head assets, including:
- Valves
- Separators
- Flair Lines
- Auxiliary Pumps
- Storage Tanks
At-Height and Subsea Access Solutions
Upstream assets and facilities are often located in places that are difficult or hazardous to reach.
Given that they are subjected to the presence of crude oil, plants may be situated in both offshore and onshore locations that are hard to access with traditional methods. MISTRAS offers multiple access strategies to ensure that vessels, rigs, platforms, drills, and other exploration and production assets can be adequately inspected and maintained.
Our technicians are trained and certified to safely and efficiently use a range of access solutions, including:
Upstream Facility Inspection Data Management
MISTRAS’ industry-leading Plant Condition Management Software (PCMS) is used across the oil & gas industry, including by many leading E&P organizations.
With PCMS, E&P clients are able to centralize asset data, transmitting data to and from the remote regions where their onshore and offshore rigs are operating. They can also manage and array of different work sites and asset types, including offshore platforms, well sites, production field equipment, and pipelines.
After performing inspection and maintenance services and installing monitoring systems at upstream facilities, MISTRAS technicians can upload all inspection data into our clients’ corporate inspection database management systems (IDMS), including PCMS, for archiving, maintenance, and re-inspection protocols. This information is can be used when ordering replacement components and to document the exact configuration of the assets at each site.
