The Australian Oil & Gas Review
Leading the way across the energy supply chain
IN today’s environment where companies are facing increased complexities in their operations, more and more companies are looking to outsource and demanding a specialist expert on a global scale.
From challenges in validating the specifications, value and safety of raw materials, products and assets to inventory visibility, control and adherence to contractual and regulatory compliance; the direction of travel is clear: there is an increasing demand to partner with a third-party Total Quality Assurance provider that offers tailor-made assurance solutions beyond just physical quality and safety performance.
As a trusted Total Quality Assurance solutions provider with a global network of more than 1000 laboratories and 42,000 people worldwide, Intertek delivers a superior level of service for customers in Australia and around the world.
Its proven supply chain expertise combined with local knowledge and insight helps its customers to manage risk in their processes and supply chains with increased transparency, whilst supporting their ability to operate effectively.
In the energy sector, Intertek offers a variety of services from increasing customers’ asset reliability, to verifying design integrity and helping them to optimise their systems performance.
Complex projects such as oil and gas pipeline construction benefit from Intertek’s unparalleled technical expertise that ensures material quality, prompt deliveries, and adherence to vendor and contractual compliance so that assets operate safely and reliably and key projects milestones are reached.
Amongst the many global energy projects undertaken by Intertek has been the provision of third party inspection services to support the procurement of Jemena’s Northern Gas Pipeline (NGP) Project in Australia.
Jemena, an energy infrastructure company, required global access to critical inspection technical expertise across their entire supply chain that commenced at the point of fabrication, with Intertek deploying a team of quality inspectors to oversee the manufacture of pipework at mills in China; including quality of welding, steel composition, coating compliance with Australian standards and adherence to engineering specifications.
“Our ability to provide on the ground expertise and personnel coupled with access to advanced technical project management and reporting systems delivered the Total Quality Assurance service Jemena needed across their projects’ entire supply chain. Consequently, Jemena can now meet project deadlines to have first gas flowing by 2018,” Intertek Industry Services business development manager Sheldon Harvey said.
On the opposite side of the world, The Nord Stream 2 project is a pioneering, large-scale project involving the production of a twin pipeline that stretches 1200km to transport natural gas from the world’s largest reserves in Northern Russia to homes and businesses across Europe.
The new pipelines will increase capacity along the Baltic Sea route from Russia to Germany.
By partnering with Intertek, the project will benefit from access to Intertek’s technical inspectors and expeditors who will monitor and facilitate pipeline development, ensure specialist requirements are delivered, risks are minimized and safety is maintained.
Intertek’s highly qualified inspectors and expeditors can detect problems earlier in the supply process, saving re-work and replacement costs as well as ensuring that a product, equipment or entire pipeline project is delivered on time and on budget.
Through continual interaction at various stages of the project, key milestones can be achieved and potential issues mitigated, which could otherwise occur during the manufacturing process.
Energy customers are looking for Total Quality Assurance solutions provider that helps them meet their supply chain and project goals whilst minimising risk, reducing cost and delay, improving safety and quality, and ensuring compliance with local and international standards.
By outsourcing to Intertek, customers receive tailored Quality Assurance solutions with precision, pace and passion, allowing them to focus on achieving their project goals while maintaining the highest standard of quality and safety.