NDT software platform
21/02/2025
Creaform, a business of Ametek Inc and worldwide provider of automated and portable 3D measurement solutions, has announced the release of VXintegrity 3.0, which introduces new key functionalities that will help perform oil & gas infrastructure fitness-for-service (FFS) evaluations. Creaform’s latest non-destructive testing (NDT) software version now provides a straightforward process for asset owners to access finite element analysis (FEA) simulations for Level III assessments and utilise American Petroleum Institute (API) 579 standard tools for seamless Level I and II evaluations.
Leveraging Creaform’s hand-held 3D laser scanning solutions, VXintegrity creates, through the FEA model export feature, a ready-to-simulate model of the corroded pipeline. The platform then sends this model directly to Creaform Engineering’s simulation team for a comprehensive analysis and precise results, offering a turnkey solution to obtain new metrics on the burst pressure.
Previously, Level III assessments could take weeks to complete. With this new solution, the process can be completed significantly faster, it is claimed. This reduces downtime and allows the asset to be returned to service more quickly and at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, when used with Creaform’s hand-held 3D scanning solutions, burst pressure simulations are said to be significantly more accurate than when using traditional measuring methods, enabling asset owners to better plan inspection programmes and avoid unnecessary repairs.
As for the new API 579 standard, it offers a straightforward method for conducting Level I and II assessments on surface corrosion, ensuring compliance. It enables simpler and more straightforward evaluations of the structural integrity of pressurised components in refineries, chemical plants and other facilities. Applicable to complex equipment such as piping systems, pressure vessels, distillation columns and storage tanks, it provides infrastructure owners with on-site reliable information about current operating conditions, aiding in fast and informed maintenance decisions.
Creaform
www.creaform3d.com
