Creaform, a business of AMETEK, Inc., announced the release of VXintegrity 3.0, which introduces new key functionalities that will help performing oil and gas infrastructure fitness-for-service (FFS) evaluations. Creaform’s latest NDT software version now provides a straightforward process for asset owners to access FEA simulations for Level III assessments and utilize American Petroleum Institute (API) 579 standard tools for seamless Level I and II evaluations.

Leveraging Creaform’s handheld 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, reducing downtime to allow the asset to be returned to service more quickly and at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, when used with Creaform’s handheld 3D scanning solutions, burst pressure simulations are significantly more accurate than when using traditional measuring methods, enabling asset owners to better plan inspection programs 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 pressurized components in refineries, chemical plants, and other facilities. Applicable to complex equipment such as piping systems, pressure vessels, distillation column, and storage tanks, it provides infrastructure owners with onsite reliable information about current operating conditions, aiding in fast and informed maintenance decisions.