Job description

Working with colleagues at NOV and academics at the University of Strathclyde the associate will undertake a 2.5 year program of work that will look to study phased array inspection of complex NOV components and develop optimised inspection procedures for maximum inspection reliability. Areas to consider include:
•Improved phased array ultrasonic testing parameters to increase probability of detection for selected complex geometries.
•Design, manufacture and validation of portable (scaled down) PAUT sensitivity and calibration pieces through simulations and experiments for inspection of target NOV complex geometry parts and in accordance with industry code and practice.
•Developing know-how for PAUT procedures within NOV, lead standardising the procedures, and training NOV NDT team’s personnel on PAUT inspection procedure development.

The associate will design, develop sensitivity/calibration prototypes, and test them using NOV/ Strathclyde’s impressive suite of test facilities/equipment.
The Associate will also contribute to the knowledge base through training workshops and reports which will be the basis for journal publications. Consistent reference to literature and use of academic and industry expertise will ensure best practice and successful delivery.

Main Activities/Responsibilities:
1. Establish and develop a working calibration system for large and complex geometry parts for advanced UT inspection, in accordance with industry code and practice, but also sustainable to the company.
2. Lead and project manage the KTP
3. Collate existing procedures and documentation to work within the new calibration system designed
4. Develop methods and instructions for Advanced PAUT inspectors to follow. the place of useful learning 619536 The University of Strathclyde is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, number SC015263 3
5. Engage in technical discussions for establishing most efficient methods of inspection
6. Completion of all KTP Training and KTP Associate Final Report in a timely manner
7. Work within NOV Document Management Systems and seek approval from relevant Engineering groups.
8. Establish global network of personnel for retrieving critical information for duration of project

Project description

The objective of this project is to conduct PAUT studies through modelling and experiments on a range of NOV’s complex components to develop a phased array ultrasound testing procedure for such components. This will include the design, manufacturing and validation of bespoke sensitivity and calibration pieces. The main goal is to embed the knowledge and experience of inspection procedure design and development within the company. The associate will work with NOV and Strathclyde to develop a new PAUT inspection procedure and standardise it for selected components while training NOV team to develop this capability for future cases.

About the business

NOV is a worldwide provider of equipment and components used in oil and gas drilling and production operations, oilfield services, and supply chain integration services to the upstream oil and gas industry. The company operates in more than 500 locations across six continents through three reporting segments: Rig Technologies, Wellbore Technologies, and Completion & Production Solutions. The NOV team in Forfar is responsible for the standardisation of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) procedures for the oilwell drilling equipment across the globe. Conventional calibration practiced by NOV can be unreliable, as the testing equipment may travel thousands of miles overseas after the initial calibration. The rigours of the journey can alter the characteristics of the calibration equipment and thus make comparison to equipment in the field unreliable. NOV's oilwell drilling components are often metres in span and extremely heavy, which makes it practically impossible to have standard reference blocks of the same size as the original equipment. Therefore, the company is seeking to recruit a candidate with background and expertise in PAUT NDE to develop permanent capacity to design, manufacture, and use sensitivity pieces for in-field inspection of equipment using PAUT equipment. Introducing portable, down-scaled sensitivity pieces for calibration use in the field will transform the reliability of NDE processes and safety of the components in operation, minimising the risks of failure and shutdown. The accuracy of manufactured sensitivity piece is critical: the defects/discontinuities must be reliable and consistent with the piece of equipment targeted for calibration.

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