Texas Steel Conversion, Inc. (TSC) has launched a fully operational Phased Array Full-Length Ultrasonic Inspection (FLUT) line, expanding its nondestructive testing (NDT) capabilities for steel tubular processing.
The company, which has more than 50 years of experience in steel tubular processing, said the new inspection line strengthens its quality-assurance capabilities for oil country tubular goods (OCTG), drill pipe and subsea products.
Phased Array Technology Expands Tubular Inspection
The addition of phased array FLUT allows TSC to provide a broader range of inspection services in-house, supporting its turnkey tubular processing offering while targeting improved quality assurance and shorter lead times.
While conventional ultrasonic testing remains a widely used method for tubular quality assurance, phased array technology uses multiple coordinated transducers to provide detailed inspection data across the length of a tube.
TSC's system is designed to identify longitudinal, transverse and oblique indications at multiple angles across the internal, mid-wall and external surfaces. The system also maps wall-thickness variations throughout the full body of the tubular.
The inspection approach provides data intended to support a more detailed assessment of tubular condition while identifying indications that conventional UT may not detect.
Automated Inspection Covers Multiple Tubular Sizes
The Phased Array FLUT line accommodates steel tubulars ranging from 3.500 to 10.625 inches in outside diameter, with lengths from 12 to 48 feet.
Automated handling, adaptive centering and controlled rotational scanning are used to maintain consistent coupling and uniform inspection coverage across different tubular sizes.
The system's full-length inspection capability expands TSC's in-house NDT offering while allowing inspection to be incorporated into its broader tubular processing operations.
TSC Highlights Investment in NDT and Quality Assurance
The phased array FLUT installation forms part of TSC's efforts to expand its inspection capabilities and provide customers with a single-source tubular processing solution.
“This investment reflects our long-standing commitment to innovation, quality, and customer service. By bringing phased array in-house, we provide our customers with a faster, more reliable, and more comprehensive inspection solution – strengthening TSC’s position as a true turnkey tubular processor,” said Robert Mucka, Vice President of TSC Quality Services.
The launch adds phased array ultrasonic inspection to TSC's NDT capabilities, supporting inspection of steel tubular products used across OCTG, drill pipe and subsea applications.
