DNV has successfully completed the technology qualification of Subtera’s passive terahertz sensor technology, which is specifically designed to detect corrosion under insulation (CUI) and the trapped moisture that causes it. This technology is crucial for industries like oil and gas and chemicals, where CUI is a leading cause of asset failure. Over the past 35 years, CUI has been responsible for more than 20% of major oil and gas accidents in the EU, posing significant safety, environmental, and financial risks.
Subtera, an ISO9001 certified organization based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the U.K., has developed this technology over a decade. Their innovative solution, known as Pi360, is a handheld, cloud-connected CUI detection camera that allows asset integrity teams to efficiently screen operational pipework protected by non-metallic cladding. It provides real-time visibility of pipe surfaces without the need to remove insulation or disrupt operations, detecting corrosion, identifying moisture ingress, and assessing fabric layers while wirelessly transmitting data for analysis and reporting.
David Haskett, CEO of Subtera, expressed the benefits of working with DNV to qualify their core CUI detection technology. DNV’s well-established methods and procedures meticulously evaluated Subtera’s technology, testing, and system development, leading to higher levels of performance, thoroughness, and understanding. Hari Vamadevan, Executive Vice President and UK and Ireland Director of Energy Systems at DNV, highlighted the collaboration with Subtera as groundbreaking and revolutionary for CUI detection. This collaboration also opens the door for innovative data and digital applications across natural gas, hydrogen, and carbon capture pipelines, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
