Spring 2001

Determining the scope of work before a scheduled outage requires detailed information pinpointing problems. Quantitative and qualitative information about the operating conditions of areas such as plant processes, rotating machinery, steam systems, and electrical systems provides the data required by planners for establishing repair priorities and managing shutdown tasks. This information also helps to ensure that possible imminent failures are dealt with before they result in a loss of production or an environmental or safety risk. Performed and properly recorded by a trained technician during normal plant operation, infrared thermography can help improve shutdown scheduling, set manpower requirements, set repair timing, and potentially streamline critical path tasks. Here are some good examples of infrared applications that will go a long way towards stretching your maintenance dollars and may assist you in preventing expensive outage surprises.

• Process: Locate blockages, restrictions, and material build-up.
• Steam Systems: Find faulty pressure safety valves, steam traps, and insulation that affect efficiency and increase operating costs.
• Electrical Systems: Find loose connections, faulty parts, and load imbalances that cause overheating and the possibility of failure under load.
• Rotating Equipment: Early detection of worn, damaged, or misaligned rotating equipment such as drive systems or conveyors can prevent costly failures. An imminent failure will often appear as a thermal anomaly under normal operating conditions.

This is only a brief summary of some of the cost benefits. Setting up a standardized infrared scanning program, tracking the results, and consistently recording the data can extend these savings beyond the immediate benefits of shutdown planning. Conservative estimates of long-term cost benefits range from a $4 return on every dollar spent on a competent infrared consultant to $20 returned on every dollar spent on a standardized, in-house infrared program.

Summer 2001

Maverick’s clients have benefited from personal instruction from our experienced technicians. These sessions focus on site-specific applications and scenarios using equipment that the client would have in the plant or in the field. Every aspect is covered according to the client’s needs, from software to infrared scanner care and operation to integrating thermography programs into predictive maintenance.

If you need help implementing your in-house thermography program, call Maverick to find out how we can help you on your way.

Winter 2001

Traditionally, videoprobes and borescopes have been used for troubleshooting or as an offshoot of NDE techniques. It is true that remote visual technology is valuable as a problem solver and can complement other forms of inspection. However, the greatest benefit of using robotic, fiberoptic, or micro camera systems is as general information gathering tools during the early stages of planned or emergency shutdowns.

A huge savings of time and money can result from determining what equipment needs opening, cleaning, and/or maintenance without relying on educated guesses. Cleaning procedures can be established and verified during the early stages to maximize efficiency. And permanent visual records of equipment and process conditions are created and can be reviewed after the high priority shutdown tasks are complete.

Fall 2002

• no health hazards
• no radiation (replaces x-ray)
• also locates materials such as PVC, not just metallic structures
• access required to only one side of the slab
• quick and portable
• on-site analysis and reporting
• computer reporting including photos and color maps available

Call Maverick for more GPR information, estimates, or for a subsurface concrete imaging demonstration. This technology is ideal for construction, restoration, and facility upgrade projects.

Spring 2003

SOME GPR APPLICATIONS

In addition to locating conduits, rebar, PVC lines, and other structures:

• confirming proper rebar grid spacing
• confirming slab thickness and uniformity
• locating voids
• mapping ice thickness and variance on winter roads
• mapping out the layout of plumbing in reconnaissance mode

Call Maverick for more GPR information, estimates, or for a subsurface concrete imaging demonstration. This technology is ideal for construction, restoration, and facility upgrade projects.

SOME MAVERICK GPR SITES

In addition to locating conduits, rebar, PVC lines, and other structures:

• University of Alberta
• Edmonton International Airport
• Alberta Provincial Government sites
• Tim Hortons
• Southgate Mall
• Kingsway Mall
• Capilano Mall
• CN Tower
• Commerce Place
• Bell Tower
• Scotia Place
• Telus Tower
• numerous parkade and condominium restorations and renovations

Maverick’s Remote Visual Department is ready to provide shutdown and turnaround support from on-site pre-job planning to inspection to digital reporting. We can use cameras to determine the presence or extent of a problem early on during your scheduled maintenance, using safer and easier means of access than manned entries.

SOME APPLICATIONS:

• small pressure vessels and towers
• underground storage tanks
• process and drainage piping
• exchangers and reactors
• flare stacks and chimneys

Depending on your specific application, intrinsically-safe or explosion proof equipment may be available. Request robotic crawlers for horizontal runs of up to 6000’.

In addition to our Level I and Level II ASNT Infrared Certification courses, Maverick is planning on hosting several application specific courses. These will be two-day training sessions that cover everything from how infrared thermography is used to marketing and selling IR thermography in specific applications.

COURSE OPTIONS:

• Commercial Roofing IR Inspections
• Commercial Electrical IR Inspections
• Electrical Substation and Switchyard IR inspections

Call (780) 467 1606 and vote for your preference. Based on your feedback, we will be lining up instructors and setting dates for the respective courses when enough students have expressed interest for each.

Summer 2003

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Range 650 feet
• For inspections in 4" to 18" pipes
• Four/six wheel drive steerable tractor
• Integral pan & tilt camera
• QWERTY keyboard for text annotation
• 1 lux sensitivity

Call Leonard at Maverick Inspection for information about the availability and capabilities of this system. It will be on-call for your shutdown and emergency inspection scenarios.

The concrete structures in sulphur pits are often subject to high levels deterioration due to the acidic atmospheres. It is difficult to gauge the thinning of concrete sulphur pit lids without coring and measuring, and this only provides information about specific areas. Ground penetrating radar has proven to be an effective non-destructive evaluation technique for determining the overall material loss in a concrete lid. This can be done on-line, and with no disruption of regular plant activity.

GPR ALSO LOCATES:

• Rebar
• Conduit
• Post-Tension Cables
• PVC Plumbing
• Non-metallic Structures
• In-floor Heating
• Voids

OTHER GPR EVALUATIONS INCLUDE:

• Concrete Thickness Measurements
• Rebar spacing
• Concrete Consistency

Winter 2003

Maverick Inspection now has the Pearpoint P600 explosion proof, steerable crawler system. This technology is the latest addition to our industrial remote visual inspection service and sales arsenal. This system can be configured with different wheel sizes and camera setups for small to large diameter piping and vessels.

Call Phil to learn more about this exciting and completely new technology.

Maverick can now visually pinpoint leaks of gases such as methane, ethylene, natural gas, propane, and other similar products. We can detect leaks as low as 10 ppm.

With the right equipment and training, infrared thermography is a powerful tool for troubleshooting many of the persistent and difficult to diagnose operational problems that facilities face.

APPLICATIONS INCLUDE:

• glycol dehdration tower obstruction
• separator and scrubber pluggage
• shellside exchanger build-up
• piping restrictions
• storage tank deposits and levels
• vacuum leaks
• cooler restrictions
• faulty insulation
• anomalous flaring
• kiln and furnace refractory

Surface temperature signatures often reflect internal events and conditions. Apart from refractory and insulation surveys, much of the infrared work requires the vessels to be uninsulated. The common paint used on plant equipment and raw carbon steel are both excellent surfaces for thermography.

Maverick provides predictive maintenance program support with infrared service, program development, inspection route planning, procedure and test development, application research, thermographer mentoring, infrared training, infrared equipment rentals, and other related services.

Recent advancements in infrared window design and materials have resulted in two benefits for Canadian industry. First, the windows are now better adapted to a larger range of applications in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Second, the price had been reduced drastically. Compared to conventional windows, the price is now 10 - 25% or less of what Canadian consumers are accustomed to paying. Custom lens material and window features can now be ordered as well, priced on a per-spec basis.

Summer/Fall 2004

Infrared thermography has been used for many years to inspect electrical switchgear and high voltage electrical components. Thermal anomalies are detected and associated with electrical faults with the potential for serious safety hazards, equipment damage, and facility down time. There are safety concerns related to arc-flash explosions and electrical shock when live electrical enclosures are opened during an inspection. Infrared windows were developed to allow a thermographer to clearly recognize the thermal signatures of problems during predictive maintenance scans without the need to open the enclosures.

In the past, infrared windows have been cost prohibitive. In addition, many models have been difficult to install, brittle, use water-soluble lens material, or have other limitations. Global Maintenance Technologies developed IR windows designed to lower the cost of the basic window model and improve the durability and ease of installation. Maverick Inspection has devoted an entirely new website, www.infraredwindow.com, to the international distribution of this product.

Video Inspection, or Remote Visual Inspection (RVI), is a powerful resource for gathering footage of the internal conditions of equipment in all kinds of industries. There have been several methods in the past for attempting to measure the size of features or anomalies noted during the inspections. These included casting shadows, measuring and comparing to other features, and other mechanical approaches.

Maverick Inspection is using a new, non-contact, software driven method. We enter information into the VisionGuage software regarding the camera system we are using, and then we can analyse the images and determine depths and distances in the footage.

During a recent plant shutdown, both eddy current technology and a video system with the VisionGuage software were used to inspect cooling water heat exchanger tubes. Extensively pitted tubes were extracted and split for manual measurements of the pit depths. The video inspection software proved to have the better overall margin of error. In addition, the video system was also able to provide valuable information about the cleanliness and internal condition of the tubes.

Contact Leonard at Maverick for more information regarding this or other remote visual techniques by phoning (780) 467-1606.

Sometimes workers have a misunderstanding about the safety rating of the equipment they are using to perform work in hazardous locations. Phrases such as "explosion proof" and "intrinsically safe" are used to describe inspection equipment, and sometimes this is based on a poor understanding of what these ratings are based on and the intention behind them.

An explosion proof or intrinsically safe rated piece of equipment must have gone through a rigorous testing procedure by the organization providing the rating, such as a CSA, UL, or ULC rating. The rating is for a properly maintained, un-modified tool used in the conditions and in the presence of the atmospheres specified in the rating itself, and used by properly trained personnel. Simply having sealed-in or potted connections on an electrical device is no guarantee of safety. The rating demonstrates that someone with the background and authority to make the claim that the equipment is indeed safe has verified the design and use of that device.

If someone on your site makes a claim that their equipment is explosion proof or intrinsically safe you should check for a stamp or markings on the equipment by the manufacturer (see the picture to the right). You should look for any post-production modifications to the equipment since these may void the rating. In addition, you can call the equipment manufacturer to check that they do manufacture rated equipment. The manufacturer will be able to tell you which models in their product line are rated, how the rating is achieved in the design, and what the proper usage of the equipment is.

For more information on using explosion-proof or intrinsically-safe remote visual equipment contact Leonard at Maverick by phoning (780) 467-1606.

Maverick's recent purchase of Mason Exploration has opened up new areas of inspection using ground penetrating radar. We have acquired the equipment and absorbed the expertise for a wide range of geological, forensic, archeological, utility, and engineering assessment support.

Maverick pinpoints the exact location of graves and urns in various ages of cemeteries. We are also involved in forensic investigations involving the detection of human remains. We recently assessed the condition and stability of concrete anchors or "dead men" for microwave towers on mountain tops, consulted on time capsule location, and used our technology to determine the condition of hockey arenas and curling rinks.

On the industrial side, ground penetrating radar is very useful for utility and void location and the assessment of concrete. We locate and track all different sizes of pipelines and even differentiate metal from fiberglass piping. We locate electrical lines, pvc conduit, plumbing, and other buried utilities. We can track voids from leakages or settling and help to determine areas of high risk during the setup of cranes and installation of plant equipment.

You can contact James at Maverick for more information regarding these or other ground penetrating radar applications by phoning (780) 467-1606.

Spring 2005

Maverick Inspection's Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Department is increasingly providing subsurface information for site engineers, geologists, environmental protection consultants, and other engineering professionals regarding subsurface anomalies.

In the past, people have relied on costly and distruptive excavations and augering techniques to determine subsurface conditions and locate features. GPR allows for the collection of underground information during normal facility operation. The gathered data is computer-analysed and presented in a comprehensive reporting format that can include plan maps, 3D subsurface data, and raw wave data with commentaries and interpretation.

Maverick Inspection has been fortunate to work closely with George Mason, M. Sc. George has been involved with ground penetrating radar work for over twenty years, and his experience and earth science insights have greatly expanded Maverick's knowledge base, procedures, and capabilities. George works closely with our technicians on the interpretation and analysis of the radar data, and provides presentations and support for site engineering personnel.

We have had great success locating and mapping out underground storage tanks, voids dump sites, utilities, and contamination plumes. Many of our clients have purchased facilities with previously installed tanks and piping but no hard evidence as to the actual location or existence of subsurface equipment. Others have evidence of leakage or cross-contamination between drainage systems, but no non-destructive means of narrowing down the source of the problem or the extent of the contamination plumage. One of Maverick's fastest-growing GPR applications is the locating of possible voids prior to the setup of cranes for heavy lifts during plant shutdowns.

GPR procedures have proven to be the best fit for these clients. It is non-destructive, low-profile technology that can gather a vast amount of subsurface information without any disruption to other activities.

James Harrison is the GPR Department Manager at Maverick. Call him at (780) 467-1606 to discuss if GPR is the right solution for any of your subsurface problems.

• Polyethylene molded case for ruggedness
• Detachable with carrying handle
• Flip top / laptop style design
• Sealed panel with all controls
• Video In and Video Out capablilities
• Easy to use

• Flip up 10.4” LCD monitor
• Optional sunshade
• Works great in sunlight

• Integrated VCR with protective door
• Built-in microphone
• Built-in speaker

• Self-correcting, intelligent battery charging system
• Up to 4 hours use on full charge
• Charges from AC or DC inputs

• On-screen footage display in feet and meters
• Accurate to plus or minus 1%

• Hi-resolution – 700 viewing lines
• Stainless steel housing
• 1 lux with auto iris
• Replaceable LED lighting

• 512 Hz
• Built-in to flex connector
• Locatable in cast iron

• Detachable base with luggage style telescoping handle for easy transport

• Convenient easy to carry bag with strap
• 3” and 4” skids
• AC and DC power cords
• VCR remote
• Camera removal tool

Maverick Inspection is proud to announce that GM Tech's IRISS Infrared Windows have achieved Lloyds Certification.

IRISS Infrared Windows are the only product within the Infrared industry to have achieved this accreditation.

The IRISS Infrared viewing ports are an example of the innovative inspection technology Maverick has introduced to Western Canada. These low-cost ports improve safety and reliability within our clients' budgets.

Maverick Inspection is Canada's videoscope, borescope, and fiberscope repair depot. Send us your bruised and broken equipment, and we will be able to provide you with a repair evaluation including repair and replacemnent costs.

Maverick can also provide rental equipment for a wide range of video inspection applications. We ship across Canada and we can provide rental contacts and support for clients in the United States as well.

Our technicians have a broad experience base, and we can discuss your applications with you to determine the appropriate equipment and approach for your scenario.

In addition to the rental of video inspection equipment, we provide complete on-site inspection service with specialized options such as non-contact feature measurement software, digital report generation in a variety of formats, and result presentation and procedure development.

Our rental department also includes infrared thermography cameras and accessories.

This March Maverick Inspection opened up a satellite office in Kelowna BC to provide infrared window sales and equipment sales and rental support.

Phil Bedard is now at this location, and he can be reached at (250) 469-0529. You can also email Phil with your infrared window or equipment rental questions.

In the future we will be looking at expanding the Kelowna office to support local industries with specialized Ground Penetrating Radar services. If you have any questions regarding this aspect of the BC location, please contact Phil.

Maverick has developed broad robotic video inspection crawler capabilities. We have brought together a variety of systems for different sizes and configurations fo piping, different atmospheres, and different inspection requirements.

Video inspection crawlers are used to gather visual information from the inside of piping, vessels, stacks, caverns, and other areas which are impractical or unsafe for manned entry. Sharp, recorded footage is monitored real-time by Maverick's technicians, and often by client engineering or maintenance personnel during the inspection. The captured data is turned into a digital report including DVD footage, captured stills, and further analysis if required.

Some of the applications for this technology includes:

• pipeline condition surveys
• pig bar conditions inspections
• stuck or lost pig locating
• process line inspections
• drainage system inspections
• coke build-up inspections
• utility line inspections

Download sample inspection footage from a robotic crawler.

Leonard is the Video Inspection Department Manager at Maverick. Call him at (780) 467-1606 to discuss what technology is appropriate for your applications.

Maverick Inspection has tackled a wide range of specialized inspection applications in all of our departments. The Infrared Thermography Department has seen its share of both the typical and extreme inspection requests. The image gallery on our website includes:

• Indoor Electrical
• Outdoor Electrical
• Process
• Machinery
• Steam Systems
• Manufacturing
• Medical and Veterinarian
• Rotating Equipment
• Buildings
• Furnaces
• Boilers
• Storage Tanks
• Aircraft
• Pressure Safety Valves
• Piping

Checkout the on-line gallery, contact Warren or phone (780) 467-1606 for more information.

Fall/Winter 2005

New projects and expansions are frequently subjected to a wide range of studies including environmental and Archaeological Impact Assessments (AIAs). One of the challenges facing companies is the difficulty of ensuring that a study is both cost-effective and diligent. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is an emerging technology in this field. The Special 25th Anniversary Issue (October 2005) of Discover magazine focusing on the "Frontiers of Science" states "the potential of ground-penetrating radar and other remote sensing technologies to answer key archeological questions is universal," and that "archeologists hope ground-penetrating radar will eliminate the need for large excavations."

Maverick Inspection has found GPR to be an excellent tool when working with archeologists. In a recent survey, George Mason, M.Sc. worked with Maverick and archeologist Rick Ouellet to remove aboriginal remains from under Highway 40. The man had been buried in 1905 and then the spirit house over the grave was bulldozed to accomodate an airstrip in 1959. The runway was replaced by a road to a coal mine, and then the coal mine road became part of Highway 40. By the time the remains were located with GPR and exhumed, they had been reduced to bone shards.

George has been involved in archeological applications from paleo- projects for the Tyrell Museum and First Nations hearths and burials as old as 300 years to cemetery surveys and European settler sites.

Understanding the theory and technology, and even anaylzing the resulting radar data, is often a stumbling block for geologists, archeologists, forensic scientists, and other professionals attempting to use GPR to support their studies. Maverick is able to fill this void by supplying both the technology and technical support. Much of the expertise, technology, and techniques required for Maverick's industrial and construction GPR projects apply to studies in other disciplines as well.

Although the data-gathering procedure and specific piece of radar equipment or analysis software may differ for applications such as concrete analysis, underground utility and tank location, and contamination plume mapping, the experience gained by our technicians applies broadly to other areas such as supporting geological, environmental, or archeological studies. In recent years, that experience has become extensive for our technicians. Maverick recently purchased two additional GPR systems to increase the capabilities of this busy department as the work load and range of applications has grown.

For more information about this or other GPR applications contact James Harrison at (780) 467-1606.

One of the challenges of modern industrial facilities is streamlining and tracking complicated maintenance and operating tasks. Western Canada is especially affected by this need, since the rapid growth of industry has left much of the supporting infrastructure to catch up to the operating and production levels.

During a recent infrared survey of a large mill in Alberta, Maverick technicians noted a long history of lubrication listed in black felt on a bearing housing. Old dates were crossed out and replaced by new ones during months and years of checking and greasing. Fortunately, this facility was in the process of implementing a database system for making this and other information more easily and reliably available. Infrared thermography was determined as the best spearhead technology for the new system since much of the trending information was already collected and centralized during Maverick's regular infrared surveys over the past several years.

Today, technology such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and barcode scanners can improve the efficiency, consistency, and usefulness of information gathered during inspection and maintenance tasks. Digital equipment lists can now contain and integrate information from PdM technology such as infrared thermography, vibration analysis, and oil analysis. Unfortunately, many facilities do not use these techniques consistently or co-ordinate what technologies they actually use. The end result is a haphazard approach to PdM inspections and trending causing generally poor communication, increased un-planned downtime, and an overall reactive approach to maintenance tasks that disrupts operation and production.

Maverick Inspection's Infrared Department tends to avoid starting business relationships with clients who are mainly interested in cursory, reluctant scans for electrical "hot spots." Instead, partnerships are developed with facilities attempting to modernize their maintenance process in order to consistently improve their safety, efficiency, and reliability. This process can include training, program development, program integration, and ongoing support. The support can range from inspection services to equipment rentals to the sale of infrared windows for enclosures to answering questions over the phone.

Maverick has specialized in approaching applications with the depth and diligence that they deserve, whether it is troubleshooting process problems, setting up wildlife surveys, consulting on research and development projects, or standard building science scans.

If you have any questions regarding infrared thermography, applications, program development, training, or other related topics contact Warren Tessari at (780) 467-1606.

Stacks and chimneys are a unique inspection challenge due to their heights, confined spaces, and restricted access. These are all limitations that Maverick's video inspection equipment is specially designed to overcome.

Maverick's technicians are able to quickly deploy and set up for full-length internal inspections of vertical equipment. The technology used includes:

• robotic 72X zoom camera with 850’ cable
• software feature measurement for cracks, holes, thickness, depths
• DVD quality recordings
• digital reporting options
• explosion-proof equipment available

There are obvious cost benefits of using video inspection to determine or verify the internal condition of this type of plant equipment without costly and hazardous confined space entries. A quick inspection minimizes the down-time involved and provides a lasting, video record of:

• refractory loss or cracking
• seepage
• the state of the dampers at the transition box area
• fouling or stress of the convection coils
• flare gas riser condition
• support collars
• gas arms
• anchor pins

You can contact Leonard at Maverick for more information regarding video inspection or phone (780) 467-1606.

Maverick Inspection has tackled a wide range of specialized inspection applications in all of our departments. The Video Inspection Department has seen its share of both the typical and extreme inspection requests. The image gallery on our website includes:

• Exchanger Tubes
• Process Piping
• Process Vessels
• Drainage Systems
• Reactors
• Coatings
• Boilers
• Sulphur Pits
• Rotating Equipment
• Weld Inspections
• Non-contact Measurement Software
• Refractory and Insulation
• Pipelines and Compressor Stations
• Civil Engineering Support
• Flares, Stacks, and Chimneys

Checkout the on-line gallery, contact Leonard, or phone (780) 467-1606 for more information.

Safety, environmental protection, and the prevention of equipment damage and loss are at the top of the list of priorities for Maverick's clients. Maverick's technologies and procedures address these needs in unique and very effective ways.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a non-destructive method of analyzing subsurface features in concrete, soil, rock, and other material. The radio signal it uses is similar in strength to a cell phone and is directed very specifically into the ground or concrete slab. There is no potentially harmful radiation typical of gamma radiography of concrete (erroneously referred to as "X-ray). Maverick uses this technology in office towers, hospitals, government buildings, and industrial facilities with virtually no disruption of the site's regular activity. This service allows cutting or coring without hitting hazardous or critical structures such as energized lines or post-tensioned cables. Maverick has also been actively assisting clients in non-destructively mapping out subsurface contamination plumes from leakages prior to excavation and clean-up, locating utilities and structures that are unclear on as-builts, pinpointing abandoned wellheads and underground storage tanks, and data gathering for ground water drainage and irrigation surveys.

Video, or Remote Visual, Inspection allows for unmanned entry into pressure vessels, piping, and other structures to collect data. Explosion-proof and intrinsically-safe equipment can be used to further increase the safety in some situations. This technology increases Maverick's clients' awareness of the condition of equipment, answers process questions, and troubleshoots while minimizing the potential for spills, releases, exposure, and confined space entry. Video technology is reusable and does not create additional waste or emit harmful radiation.

Infrared thermography is typically performed while equipment is running under normal or elevated operating conditions. Potentially damaging or hazardous conditions are identified passively prior to failure. Surface thermal patterns are often signs of inefficiency in rotating equipment, refractory-lined equipment, electrical systems, steam systems, building envelopes, and other equipment and structures. Gas Leak Imaging, an offshoot of infrared, helps to identify leaks of hydrocarbon gases for safety, efficiency, and greenhouse gas emission quotas. Thermography does not need to emit energy, so there are no radioactive hazards or interference with fire detection systems.

To learn more about any of these technologies, contact Maverick at (780) 467-1606.

Earlier this year, Maverick Inspection opened up a satellite office in Kelowna BC to provide infrared window sales and video inspection equipment sales, repairs, and rental support. Construction is starting on the facility and should be completed in early 2006. In the mean time, you can still access Maverick's products and services through the British Columbia satellite.

Phil Bedard is now at this location, and he can be reached at (250) 765-2933. You can also email Phil with any sales, rentals, repairs, and infrared window requests.

The Kelowna office will also support local industries with specialized Ground Penetrating Radar services. If you have any questions regarding this aspect of the BC location, please contact Phil.

Spring/Summer 2006

There are countless injection lines buried in Western Canada. Many of these have been in the ground for years and their integrity and internal condition is unknown. Often no one knows that there is a problem until a failure occurs. Video Inspection is a good method of confirming the condition of these lines including produced water lines, emulsion lines, brine lines, steam lines, etc. The video systems work well in cast iron, fiberglass and coated lines. They can be inserted into the line from risers at the wellhead, excavated cut-outs, pig launchers, and satellite or header locations.

There are several benefits to using video inspection for injection line inspection:

• reduce maintenance costs and unplanned downtime
• detect corrosion and pitting
• find coating defects such as blistering, delamination, and disbondment
• confirm cleanliness and effectiveness of pigging
• determine the right frequency of cleaning and pigging
• locate blockages and restrictions
• easy to deploy and efficient
• quick, visual evaluation of condition of lines
• less expensive and more intuitive than smart pigging

For more information about this or other Video applications contact Leonard Olchove at (780) 467-1606.

Post-tension cables are tendons composed of steel wires embedded in concrete and then tensioned after the concrete is hardened. They are used on projects ranging from single-family to multi-family residential, to commercial and institutional buildings and parking structures.

PT cables are a serious hazard when concrete is trenched or cored for plumbing, electrical, or other renovation or repair work. If post-tensioned cables are severed, they have tremendous force behind them and can be lethally destructive. They carry over 30,000 pounds of force, and they can cut a hole through a car.

PT cables can also be very expensive to replace if they are severed.

There are several precautions to take when disturbing concrete around PT cables:There are several precautions to take when disturbing concrete around PT cables:

• scan the area using Ground-penetrating Radar (GPR) to locate structures in the concrete
• look for tell-tale signs of PT cables like the anchorages and staples to confirm the results of the scan
• never straddle a PT cable with your body when cutting or coring
• always stay at least 3 inches away from the center mark of the tendon on either side
• chip away around the cable with a chipping hammer to visually locate it if you have to work closer than 3 inches

If you have any questions regarding this or other Ground-penetrating Radar applications, contact James Harrison at (780) 467-1606.

In early 2006, Maverick Inspection purchased a HILTI concrete coring rig to complement our Ground-penetrating Radar services. Our coring service is specifically to meet the needs of our GPR clients and ensure that they can have coring done in a timely fashion after the scanning is complete. As an added precaution, Maverick’s coring team includes equipment for a second EM sweep for live AC power prior to coring.

This service gives specific priority to our clients who have had us perform a GPR scan and require coring in that area. Other requests are only accommodated after our GPR clients’ needs are taken care of.

You can contact Leonard at Maverick for more information regarding concrete coring or phone (780) 467-1606.

Maverick Inspection Ltd. is now the exclusive authorized IBAK Sales representative for Western Canada. The IBAK Pipe Inspection System can inspect pipes ranging from 4" to 36" diameter and can be configured as a portable or truck mounted system. IBAK has been manufacturing CCTV and Pipe inspection systems since 1957.

February 2006 - Maverick Inspection Ltd. attended the Pumper Cleaner Expo in Nashville, TN.  Phil demonstrated multiple systems throughout the show, including our custom demo van in the RapidView booth, portable systems at the Doheny Companies' booth, and the truck mounted system at Vactor Manufacturing. The show was a great success with an unbelievable response.  Maverick Inspection would like to thank everyone who attended.

For further information or to schedule a demo contact Phil or phone (250) 469-0529.

Infrared Thermography has been used for many years for applications such as electrical scans, rotating and mechanical equipment predictive maintenance, research and development, process troubleshooting, and building science.

Buildings have a wide range of problems that infrared is ideal for troubleshooting. These include:

• locating in-floor heating
• identifying moisture or ice in roof and wall insulation
• imaging building envelope leaks
• identifying electrical faults
• evaluating steam systems

To learn more about Infrared Thermography applications contact Ryan Cote or phone (780) 467-1606.

If you have borescopes, videoscopes, robotic cameras, pipe cameras, or other systems that are in need of parts or repairs, Maverick will help you.

If you need to rent, trade-in, add to, upgrade, or purchase video or infrared systems, Maverick can help with those needs as well.

Phil Bedard is at Maverick’s Kelowna location, and he can be reached at (250) 469-0529. You can also email Phil Bedard with any sales, rentals, and repairs requests.