Industries we operate in:

• Water utilities

Growing demand on finite natural resources such as water calls for more efficient management to reduce potential waste. Water distribution systems are a critical element where improvements can be found through better maintenance. The Skipper NDT technology brings a new way forward to support this effort.

Maintaining Water Infrastructure

In North America alone, there are over 260,000 water main breaks annually, with an estimated $2.6 billion spent on maintenance and repair. Similar challenges exist in Europe and elsewhere. The average age at failure for water mains is currently 53 years, necessitating more sophisticated maintenance to prolong their lifespan.

Skipper NDT technology offers crucial support for maintaining water pipelines, particularly those made of cast iron which lack cathodic protection systems. Moreover, the isolating joints between pipe sections hinder traditional line locating technologies.

• Energy

Pipelines are the most secure and efficient means of transporting large quantities of energy products across vast distances. Underground pipelines stretch a distance equivalent to 21 times the distance to the moon.

Transforming Pipeline Maintenance

Aging pipelines require new maintenance technologies to ensure their operational safety to protect communities and the environment, given the severe consequences of failures.

Skipper NDT introduces a new paradigm leveraging the latest technologies to transform maintenance protocols through automation. The benefits to operators / service providers are:

• Enhance data quality
• Better safety for field personnel
• Cost efficiency

Field applications include precise pipeline geospatial positioning in complex environments such as river crossings, bending strain assessment in geohazard-prone areas or underground asset mapping for decommissioned sites.

Leading operators like Chevron, Marathon, and Enbridge have integrated the Skipper NDT technology to enhance their pipeline integrity management programs and reduce operational safety hazards.

• Electricity

High voltage cables are the backbone of electrical power transmission and distribution systems. They constitute an important link in the diversification of the energy mix with the inclusion of some renewable sources such as wind and solar.

Underground Power Cable Integrity

Similarly to pipelines, electrical lines cover entire countries extending offshore to link windmills to the shore. Like pipelines, they are prone to third party damage when buried underground. For that reason, depth of cover assessment is a critical part of integrity management for below ground power cables. 

Traditional tools used to determine the spatial positioning of underground power cables have limitations in both resolution and data collection. This can make it challenging to pinpoint the location of faults, complicating remediation efforts.Skipper NDT has proven the effectiveness of its technology in this area through successful deployments with Enedis in France and other operators.

• Hydrogen

Hydrogen holds many promises for the future of energy by providing a sustainable alternative to power our societies. Its widespread use will constitute a major milestone towards a decarbonized future.

Ensuring Safe Hydrogen Transport

Utilizing existing infrastructure for the expanding hydrogen energy sector is vital but poses technical challenges due to hydrogen’s nature. Enhancing monitoring of current pipeline systems is essential for their safe adaptation. 

Skipper NDT specializes in providing rapid and precise assessments of structural deformation caused by geotechnical movements. Our solutions support the seamless integration of hydrogen transportation within existing networks, ensuring safety and reliability. By leveraging advanced technologies, we contribute to the sustainable growth of hydrogen energy, addressing critical infrastructure needs and facilitating the transition to cleaner energy sources.

FIELD APPLICATIONS

• Water crossing
• Bending strain analysis (BSA)
• Decommissionned Sites and Abandonned Wells
• DOC assessment

Products

• Argos (Hardware)
• Atlas (Hardware)
• Admiral (Software)
• Orion (Software)
• Morpho (Software)