Mechanical Testing

A range of test services in support of structural integrity are available including oil and gas industry umbilicals and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Umbilical Flowlines
We have facilities for accelerated ageing, analysis and testing of umbilical lines.

These processes allow us to accurately predict the chemical compatibility of various industrial and other fluids with any thermoplastic lining material used in umbilical lines.

All fluid compatibility test procedures conform to the specifications in API 17E; Specification for Subsea Production Control Umbilicals: 1998.

Our services include:

Cyclic pressure testing of hoses with test fluids at elevated temperatures (ageing)
Immersion testing (gross incompatibility test)
Mechanical tests
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examinations
Turbidity, specific gravity, fluid analysis (including chemical evaluation using a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer), etc

The facilities are also employed to test the chemical compatibility of a range of elastomeric seals.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Testing
TUV NEL has extensive experience of inspecting, assessing and testing protective equipment, particularly fall arrest systems and devices. As a UKAS-approved test house, TUV NEL is accredited to conduct tests to EN standards. TUV NEL's purpose-built fall arrest PPE testing facility features multiple dynamic test rigs which are used for routine tests as well as research programmes.