TPT March 2014

Technology News

Advancing the OCTG inspection industry

to inspect thicker wall pipe for both ID and OD imperfections, often resulting in steel mills investing large sums into other, often slower, inspection methods, which in turn led to lower production in some of their highest demand pipe sizes. When Scan Systems engineers recognised these unmet needs back in 1988, they set about inventing new and innovative means to optimise their industry. One example of this ingenuity is when they identified the need for a better way to introduce artificial flaws in order to calibrate MFL or ultrasonic inspection equipment for heightened sensitivity and accuracy. To increase quality assurance, the Scan Systems team designed and manufactured the world’s first portable EDM unit (electric discharge machine), specifically adapted to introduce artificial flaws in pipe. Since then, Scan Systems’ NotchMaster product line has become the recognised standard in portable EDM equipment used for creating precision flaws for calibrating inspection equipment on both the inside and outside diameters of pipe, as well as other metal products. Around the same time, another Scan Systems division was working on two products for OCTG service operations. The first was Tally-Rite, designed specifically for companies involved in the storage, handling, inspection and reporting of OCTG materials. Conventional pipe tallies require at least three direct labourers and usually a collection of office personnel recruited for the addition of the paperwork. However, by patiently programming and developing ideas, Scan Systems’ team came up with an automated pipe tally tool. Tally-Rite significantly reduces direct labour and human errors. In fact, Tally-Rite 2000 can add 120 tallies in 55 seconds, or tally a truck-load of tubing in less than ten minutes with only two people. “It really says something when the brand of equipment your company invented in the 80s is still in use nearly 30 years later,” said Matt Rutledge, VP of sales and marketing for Scan Systems. “We’re extremely proud of our heritage. We love to tinker with new ideas and

AS professionals in the oil country tubular goods (OCTG) industry, the founders of Scan Systems pride themselves on a heritage of identifying real business needs. Back in the 1980s, companies were trying to keep track of their pipe tallies in generic computer spreadsheets like Excel, or worse, paper cards in three-ring binders. Joints of pipe were going missing, time was being wasted, and as a result, money was being lost. Without reliable technology and process systems to track complex inventory, businesses were fighting an uphill battle to achieve accurate inventories in a timely manner. Bad tallies and inaccurate inventories were costing companies exorbitant expenses and hundreds of hours of work. Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) pipe inspection equipment was also far from adequate, making it nearly impossible

OCTG can be difficult to keep track of

ways to improve our products. As a result, you’ll find that all our products have evolved over the decades. We’ve added new features, sped up processing, expanded functionality, you name it. The world of technology is advancing at a rapid rate, and at Scan Systems, we like to keep the OCTG industry on the cutting edge.” The second innovation was TDS (now TDSW), which is Tubular Data Systems for Windows. A computer software system for OCTG inventory management, TDSW is an inventory solution that streamlines a company’s daily operations to totally integrate the overall operations of an OCTG inspection, service or storage facility. The software puts control in the hands of the inventory manager, and allows users to access up-to-the-minute changes in the OCTG material within their facility. These two inventions – both inspired out of necessity and a desire to advance the OCTG industry – set a high standard that Scan Systems continues to live up to, and build upon, today. “Keeping an accurate inventory isn’t just a matter of counting pipes,” explained Mr Rutledge. “Unlike other industries’ inventories, OCTG changes description as it goes through the process. The same piece of pipe could go through the heat treatment process to become a stronger, different grade or go from plain end to threaded and coupled so the inventory you received will be different from what is shipped out and you have to keep track of every detail.”

Scan Systems – USA Website: www.scansystems.com

98

www.read-tpt.com

M arch 2014

Made with