Mistras Group Inc.
When it comes to asset protection services, Mistras Group Inc. strives to be a one-stop shop. The Princeton Junction, N.J.-based company specializes in critical asset protection solutions that includes 24/7 online monitoring, non-destructive testing services and data warehousing inspection software for its many clients. Tom Bull, the national business development manager of Mistras’ pipeline division, says the company serves nearly all industries that require non-destructive testing.
Mistras serves oil and gas, public infrastructure, chemical, aerospace and defense, power generation, transmission and distribution, industrial, pharmaceutical and food processing clients. “Given the role our services play in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of infrastructure, we have historically provided a majority of our services to our customers on a regular, recurring basis,” the company adds.
Over the years, Mistras has increased its activities in the pipeline industry in order to meet the ongoing demand within this sector. To put in perspective the demand for pipeline inspection work: The number of rigs in United States oil fields has more than quadrupled in the past three years to 1,272. Including those in natural gas fields, the United States has more rigs at work than the entire rest of the world.
Pipeline Inspection Services
Mistras is focused on serving the midstream sector of the pipeline market that transmits oil and gas “from the wellhead to the storage facilities,” Bull says. He adds that Mistras’ 80 locations across North America allow it to serve its clients nearly “anywhere.”
Among its midstream services, Mistras has both traditional services – radiographic testing, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle and ultrasonics – as well as advanced services and engineering – automated ultrasonics, digital radiography, eddy current, acoustic emission, and plant condition management software and services – to serve its many clients and customers.
When it comes to large pipeline projects, Mistras has three major components: traditional gamma ray, internal crawlers and automated ultrasonic systems (AUT). For smaller pipe diameters, the traditional gamma ray is used, but as the pipe diameter becomes larger, the use of internal crawlers is more prevalent. With larger, more rigorous pipeline projects, it is more prudent to use AUT services, especially in pipelines with automatic welding versus stick welding.
Location, Location, Location
Mistras serves midstream clients in various shale plays across North America, predominately focusing on the Marcellus and Utica Shale in the Eastern United States, the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas, and the Bakken formation in Montana and North and South Dakota. Both Eagle Ford and Bakken are attracting a lot of new activity and “are rich in liquids,” Bull says.
With more than 80 locations strategically placed across the country, and specifically along the Marcellus path, some may say it is easier to serve and provide for clients within this shale play. This isn’t the case for Mistras. According to Bull, while the Bakken and Eagle Ford locations are remote and sometimes challenging, the same Mistras resources are still abundant and accessible. And by always having a Mistras location nearby, the local presence and service is always readily available.
Getting Approval
Since most firms don’t source out the NDT work to the pipeline contractor, it is imperative for Mistras to have a master service agreement (MSA) for its NDT work with the specific clients. To date, Mistras has a significant number of MSAs with the major pipeline companies in North America.
This has been beneficial to Mistras winning many high-profile projects in the last few years, Bull says. “We’ve been very successful,” he asserts.
The company has managed success in the shale plays by working to improve awareness of its brand and capabilities since 2009. To get the word out, the company conducted seminars within the regions on the use of different technologies, placed ads in publications and attended drilling conferences. It also called on energy executives with whom the company could form these master service agreements.
“Once we have that in place, that means all of our locations across the country have the ability to call on the client, whether it’s a pipeline [or] a facility opportunity,” he says.
“Once we’ve gotten that approval, the client will let all of its properties know that Mistras is an approved supplier and can then recommend us for the job,” he states. “[If you] are not on their approved list, [most] will not do business with you.”
Within Its Limits
Bull predicts that Mistras will continue to grow with the midstream sector, allowing it to develop and expand its business over the next five to 10 years throughout this industry.
“Our main challenge over the next few years will be to keep up with the ongoing demand that comes along with the various shales emerging across the United States,” he says. “But as our many locations grow and expand, we will be able to continue providing high quality and reliable equipment, skilled manpower and our excellent safety record to all of our clients, nationwide.”