news
KMAX has entered the Canadian by opening up an office in Calgary . Our new manager of Canada, Johanan Clemente brings many years of ILI experience to the KMAX Family.
KMAX CEO Ken Maxfield along with Canadian Manager Johanan Clemente on a recent job in Canada
While the principle of magnetic flux leakage (MFL) is relatively simple, its application in inline inspection (ILI) of carbon steel pipe is far more complex. MFL system design and analysis encompass complex interactions between the magnetic field and flux leakage produced by metal loss defects in the pipe wall, making signal identification & interpretation difficult. Thus, the need for tool tolerances. This paper discusses the cause and effect of wide-ranging factors which influence the reported depths & dimensions of MFL In-line Inspection (ILI) data.
KMAX prides its self on continual improvement in every aspect of our organization. We understand our customer needs and strive to make our customer’s lives easier as we work together to achieve everyone’s integrity goals. As part of these goals we’d like to share with you our policy that we strive to achieve each and every day.
Quality Policy
KMAX commits to implant consistency into every aspect of our company; to continuously improve processes; to meet or exceed our performance specifications; to become a partner with our customers to help them meet their internal and external compliance obligations.
Quality Objectives
Achieve first run success
On time reporting
Meet and exceed our tool’s performance specifications
Small diameter pipelines have been historically very difficult to inspect with In-line Inspection (ILI) tools, especially using the MFL technique. Small diameter pipelines are challenging because they leave ILI system designers little space to fit the required system components of an ILI tool. In addition, many small diameter pipelines were designed and built without any consideration for ILI tool passage.
Recent advancements in microprocessor computational power, memory density, sensor technology, engineering design/modelling software, and rare earth magnetic technology have allowed an inspection system to be developed to inspect these small diameter pipelines.
This paper will describe several case studies and lessons learned about doing 1st time, MFL inspections of previously unpiggable, small diameter, pipelines.
Ken Maxfield giving presentation
KMAX is excited to welcome Brad Reese to the KMAX family as a Data Analyst. Brad brings over 16 years of analyzing MFL data to KMAX. Brad started in the pipeline industry in 1998. He had been a Data Analyst since 2003. He has many years experience as a level III analyst as well as serving as a customer liaison to many major pipeline operators.
Join Ken Maxfield, CEO, KMAX Inspection LLC at the 5th Unpiggable Pipeline Solutions Forum from June 12-13, 2019 in Houston, TX where he discusses the challenges of inspecting small-diameter pipelines including a case study describing real world applications.
Our 3 inch and 4 inch cleaning and gauge combo pigs
Introducing our new multi-body cleaning-gauge combo pig. KMAX has once again made small diameter inspection easier by streamlining preliminary ILI procedures. This unique approach to cleaning will save operators both time and money in preparation for smart pigging.
Why multi-body? The answer is simple, using a multi-body tool opens a plethora of possibilities that cater to each pipeline’s unique cleaning requirements. If the pipeline is relatively new and with clean product a simple two body pig will be perfect. For those sticky crude lines, we can easily add multiple cup bodies and multiple brushes to maximize cleaning power in one simple pass. Add on our gauge plate body and you have an all in one pre-inspection solution!
If you have a project coming up send us an email at info@kmaxinspection.com for a customized solution!
Come see us in Houston at the PPIM exhibition in booth 713 ! We will be showing off our 3 inch MFL/DEF combo tool as well as our brand new small diameter multi body cleaning gauge pigs!
Our small diameter inline inspection tools can’t be beat on collapsibility and flexibility you’ll be amazed at what our tools are capable of. We have also gone one step further to minimize the challenges of small diameter pipeline inspection with our new multi body cleaning gauge pigs. This unique combination simplifies pre-inspection procedures and ensures the highest quality data during the inspection. For more information please reach out here : http://www.kmaxinspection.com/find-your-solution/ Or via email: garrett@kmaxinspection.com
We hope to see you soon!
We are excited to announce KMAX Inspection will again be exhibiting at the Pipeline Pigging and Integrity Management conference in 2018. This year we are excited to bring two of our favorite ILI tools with us, our 3-inch MFL/deformation combo tool and our 4-inch MFL/deformation combo tool. Come stop by booth 713 (look for the orange floor) in front of the main entrance and take a look. We’d love to show you how we can customize our tools to your individual pipeline applications.
Come see us in booth 713!
KMAX Inspection will be back at PPIM for the 29th year of the pipeline pigging conference and exhibition. From February 28th through March 2nd, you can find us at our booth (713) located straight in from the main entrance to the exhibition hall. Please stop on by and introduce yourself and find out how we can help you with your small diameter pipeline inspection needs!
KMAX Inspection's tool fleet continues to grow and expand. In December of 2016 KMAX Inspection completed its maiden voyage of their newest inspection tool. This time it was the biggest tool in the fleet, a 6 inch magnetic flux leakage, IDOD, deformation (geometry) combo tool. KMAX’s fleet comprising of 3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch tools now serves the most common small diameter pipelines found in the oil and gas industry.
KMAX Inspection is happy to announce the successful launch our first 4 inch MFL tool. The first run was configured with magnetic flux leakage, IDOD, and deformation (geometry) sensors. The 4 inch tool launch marks the second tool in KMAX’s fleet following the lead of its smaller, 3 inch sibling.
Are you attending the 28th International Pipeline Pigging & Integrity Management Conference this week in Houston, Texas? If so we’d love to meet you! Stop by booth T25 and come see the latest in small diameter pigging technology. We will be at the conference February 9th through the 11th introducing our newest pig to the masses. Come take a look and learn how our designs and technology can benefit your specific applications.
For more information about the conference check out the following link:
PPIM 2016
Safety doesn’t happen by accident and that’s exactly why we made safety our top priority. To better help us reach our goals as well as help our clients understand the extent to which we live the safety mindset, we have joined the ISNetworld network. ISNetworld is a tool to enable hiring companies to collect, verify, and connect with the safety information of their contractors. Check out some of the features and benefits to using a contractor who has adopted and implemented a safety system such as ISNetworld.
“Maintaining safety, insurance, quality and regulatory information on contractors and suppliers can often be a strain on internal resources. ISN streamlines these processes, saving time and improving safety standards. Hiring Clients use ISNetworld to standardize contractor management across multiple sites and geographic regions, clearly communicate requirements and expectations and exchange data with other internal systems. The result is lower incident rates and higher compliance numbers.
ISN facilitates the collection of self-reported information from contractors and maintains it in a centralized database, ISNetworld. The information we collect is configured to each Hiring Client’s specific requirements and includes items such as:
•Management System Questionnaire
•Health & Safety, Environmental, Sustainability & Quality Programs
•Injury & Illness Records
•Audit Results
•Insurance Certificates
•Workers' Compensation & Experience Modifier
•Training & Supporting Documents
Our subject matter experts review the information contractors report, ensuring consistency with the requirements set forth by their clients and regulatory agencies. ISN also partners with multiple data providers to import training qualifications, audits and other information into ISNetworld.
ISNetworld connects Hiring Clients with safe and sustainable contractors, facilitating partnerships to help ensure compliance with safety and procurement standards. Hiring Clients have multiple tools that enable clear and open communication. Subscribed contractors and suppliers are provided with marketing and networking opportunities to increase their visibility to Hiring Clients across various industries.”
- www.isnetworld.com/whatwedo.aspx
After 3 years of design work, many design revisions, countless hours of testing, and a few all-nighters, KMAX Inspection’s maiden voyage proved successful in our first small diameter inline inspection. Our 3 inch tool proved to be ahead of the game as it found over 25 metal loss features in the .125 wall pipe with defects up to 60% metal loss, compared to only 1 defect of 30% metal loss found by the ultrasonic tool that inspected the same line in 2011.
