Direct Assessment Partners Merger
Coast to Coast NDE and Direct Assessment Partners Merge
Wilsonville, Oregon - April 3rd, 2006 - Coast to Coast NDE Services and
Direct Assessment Partners are excited to
announce the consolidation of their services to move forward as an industry leading Direct Assessment Training and Pipeline
Integrity Inspection Services Provider. This merger provides Coast NDE with a comprehensive pipeline integrity package to
offer to the pipeline industry.
Key Benefits of the merger include:
- Direct Assessment Training, Manual and Course – Coast NDE will utilize the training process as a mechanism to ensure the
highest level of certified technician training and operator qualifications for each of our employees, prior to working on client
projects. In addition, in-house and web-based training will be provided to third-party integrity inspectors and clients.
- Industry Leading Data Acquisition and Reporting Software – Although Coast NDE has utilized the Direct Assessments Software since
inception, we now own the software outright and therefore have unlimited ability to improve it, most importantly, customize it to
meet the client's needs. This includes providing an overall management system for all pipeline excavations for both storing and
integration of all resultant data. The software is modularized to be attached to specific pipeline locations in the client's GIS.
This enables us to demonstrate the sample sites to regulators and justify the segment conclusions by zooming in for a virtual reality
tour of all or a portion of the dig site data, including ILI correlations with as found features. The software is readily
customizable to automatically generate the client's own forms in addition to the unique Coast NDE electronic output.
Its screens provide an intuitive step by step methodology for consistent dig site data-gathering that allows preliminary
susceptibility conclusions to be logically drawn by trained field staff. The overall procedural methodology and software is
designed so that only one person needs to be in the trench while the data is recorded, allowing a second crew member to input
data into his/her laptop computer while in low power radio contact with the first technician.
- Risk Based Soils Model – Coast has acquired a 50% interest in a risk-based soils model for both types of SCC, external corrosion
and MIC being developed on an alliance basis with Kiefner and Associates, Inc. (KAI). The model is currently in the field test
development stage and is expected to be commercially available by August 30, 2006.
It is Coast NDE’s responsibility to develop a soils based GIS theme consisting of 10 variables deemed by KAI to be significant for
SCC and corrosion, which are derived automatically from algorithms utilizing interpreted soils and drainage data from underlying
government geotechnical mapping. The theme consists of: a) a pipeline shape file, with pipeline cut in small segments as a result
of intersection with various soil polygons, and b) a database table, with 10 soil-based SCC/corrosion parameter values for each
soil segment in the pipeline. KAI is responsible for the development of risk algorithms that utilize the 10 variables from the
soils based theme plus other data stored as shape files within the clients GIS to develop self consistent relative risk values
for both types of SCC, external corrosion and MIC that are also consistent with the client's relative risk values for other threats.
This soils based risk model can be used on a stand alone basis, as part of the client's overall risk model or as an integral part of
KAI’s risk based SCC Direct Assessment plan.
- Nova Probe –Coast NDE staff have been actively involved in using the NovaProbe for the past several years. With completion of
the Direct Assessments merger, Coast NDE has acquired exclusive world wide rights to manufacture and market the handheld and the
permanent buried NovaProbe technology. The handheld probe has recently been redesigned to be more robust and now also measures
the native potential of pipeline steel, thereby facilitating instantaneous de-polarization measurements. Coast offers both handheld
and permanent buried NovaProbes to the open market as well as providing services installing and utilizing the buried probe.
Coast NDE is working with several clients to maximize the effectiveness of the NovaProbe in the ECDA Pre-Assessment step.
More information on the Coast to Coast NDE Services and Direct Assessment Partners merger can be directed to Duncan Dubé at (503)
551-6480 or Jerald Baccari at (503) 559-4935.
Questions about how you can put Coast NDE to work for you can be directed to the Coast NDE Main Office at: (888) 679-5888 or
mobilize@coastnde.com
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