DOHA: Saad Al Kubaisi, manager of Qatar Petroleum's Corporate HSE Department, opened a one day seminar on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) recently.
The seminar was sponsored by Qatar Petroleum and organised by the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR). An expert from the International Atomic Energy Association (AEA) was invited as a keynote speaker. The seminar was attended by specialists from throughout the oil and gas sector, local industrial companies, and Qatar University.
Dr Ahmed Al Khataiba, a radiation protection consultant from SCENR, outlined Qatar's Radiation Protection Law and the certification requirements for NDT testing personnel.
John Zirnhelt, a Canadian expert on NDT, presented an overview of different NDT techniques and their applications and advancements in NDT methods. He also highlighted the comparative costs of different NDT methods and discussed issues and challenges relating to NDT.
Saad Al Kubaisi highlighted the critical role of NDT techniques in the oil and gas sector and the importance of having qualified local staff in this field. QP aims to purse the best NDT technologies and techniques available to the global oil and gas industry in order to safeguard its equipment and materials. It is committed to meeting the standards of the Supreme Council in this area and adopting the best industry practices world wide.
QP is working closely with the Supreme Council to implement Qatar's national pilot programme for non-destructive testing. As a part of this pilot programme, Qatar will establish and operate a NDT training centre and a NDT certification authority.
© The Peninsula 2005
