FIFTH CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON NONDESTRUCTIVE ... - IAEA

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contractor will have to charge a day rate of $1,170. If another twenty percent
is added for equipment spares, the total day rate for equipment totals
$1,400. The cost of video and computer recording media in relation to the
cost of the expendables has been determined to be about $0.25 per linear foot
of weld. Labor costs are assumed to remain constant. The trend will be to
use less, but more technically trained personnel; therefore, the cost tradeoff
will balance. The following chart is included for comparison to the 30"
0 job described for conventional radiography.
REAL TIME RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION
(Estimated Cost in 1983 Dollars)
Single joint operation. 30" 0 pipeline, 180 joints per 12 hour shift, 10 day
duration of job, internal radiography.
Labour (same as conventional film $ 2,200 Labor
radiography)
Cost per joint (expendables)
$0.25/linear foot of weld
($2.00/joint)
720
Equipment and spares 1,400
10 day job cost
$ 4,320
$43 ,200
Expendables
Equipment
Day Rate
Although the above is a hypothetical presentation of how an inspection company
may charge for work undertaken with a real time radiographie system, it
points out two factors:
1. The cost of real time radiography might be essentially the same,
or might be greater than conventional film radiography, depending
on the cost of expendables and size of the pipe.
2. Where the daily cost of operation of a laybarge may range from
$75,000 ($3,125/hour) for a small spread in the Gulf of Mexico
to $250,000 ($10,420/hour) or more for a large operation in the
North Sea, total inspection cost for a whole job can be returned
in a few hours of increased reliability. Pipeline contractors
may want to consider the purchase of a real time radiographie
system and the subcontracting of inspection work performed with
that system. The return on investment could be substantial.
15. OPERATING RELIABILITY
The reliability of real time radiographie systems is more dependent on
mechanical devices than on personnel. Film and proper screens do not have