Locked groove were contacted by one of our oil & gas clients to undertake the annual thorough examination, four yearly load test & NDT of their Palfinger pipehandler crane, a hydraulic knuckle boom crane which is mainly used for lifting drilling tubulars around the pipe deck with its attached pipe grab.
The crane can also be used without its pipe grab attachment to undertake generic deck lifts, capable of working In high winds of 60 knots (pipe grab only). Our engineer was mobilised at short notice along with the concrete test weights. A full thorough examination revealed some minor issues such as leaking hydraulic pilot hoses. This was rectified and after being satisfied with the condition of the crane as a whole, the load test commenced.
A proof load test of 125% was carried out with the boom extended, the overload protection was checked which worked as it should. The load was then held for a period of 10 minutes to check for any creeping and mechanical deficiencies with none noted. A full post load test thorough examination was then carried out using a mewp to allow us to check the entirety of the crane close-up.
After this our engineer carried out a magnetic particle inspection of all critical load bearing areas of the boom and column to check for any mechanical damage / crack like indications which none were observed. A full report was then handed to the client and the unit was signed off for another year assuring continued productivity to essential drilling operations.
