RBG Middle East has successfully delivered a vessel shell UT (ultrasonic) inspection workscope using rope access on an oil separator tank at OXY/QP Halul Island, Qatar. RBG was recently acquired by Stork Technical Services.
The work was undertaken on a 25m by 40m tank, therefore using conventional scaffold access would have significantly increased the project cost, length and man hours expended. To carry out the project efficiently and cost-effectively, RBG mobilised three multi-skilled rope-access technicians to safely deliver the UT inspection.
Rope access is not traditionally used in Middle East oil and gas activity, despite being an established practice across RBG’s operations in UKCS, Americas and Caspian. The company’s expert team in the Middle East is fully trained in IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) procedures and regular assessments ensure the highest skills and standards are maintained.
Craig Graham, OXY Team Lead – Asset Integrity Ops, said: “The ability to use rope access inspection adds another dimension to our Asset Integrity program, and the performance of the RBG team on our facilities has been to a very high standard. We are completing UT surveys in a fraction of the time and making large savings by eliminating extensive scaffold programs .The competency of the staff has been excellent and their ability to think outside of the square to resolve aerial access issues has been invaluable to our program over the last three years.”
Dave Wallace, NDT inspection manager for RBG Middle East, manages the rope access team. Commenting on the project, he said: “Receiving such positive feedback from one of our major Middle East clients is particularly pleasing. We have worked hard to develop our rope access capability over the years and we can add value by deploying expert multi-disciplined teams that deliver real cost, efficiency and time benefits for our customers.”
