New corrosion laboratory opens at Stork TMC in Houston

HOUSTON, TX - July 1, 2009

Stork Testing & Metallurgical Consulting is pleased to announce the opening of its Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Advanced Corrosion Laboratory in Houston.

New corrosion testing and consulting services
Stork TMC was established in 2008 by two diverse testing laboratories coming together: Stork Metallurgical Consultants (MC) and Stork Southwestern laboratories (SwL). The corrosion laboratory replaces the former Stork MC corrosion facilities, and expands its capacity and capabilities.

Services now available to customers in the new corrosion laboratory include NACE (formerly the National Association of Corrosion Engineers) International and ASTM International recommended test methods:

• Tensile test according to NACE TM0177 Method A
• Bent-Beam test according to NACE TM0177 Method B
• C-Ring test according to NACE TM0177 Method C
• Double-Cantilever-Beam (DCB) test according to NACE TM0177 Method D
• Hydrogen-Induced Cracking (HIC) test according to NACE TM0284
• Four-Point Bend test according to ASTM G39
• In addition to the corrosion laboratory, Stork TMC offers assistance with the selection and specification of materials resistant to Sulfide Stress Cracking (SSC) and Hydrogen-Induced Cracking (HIC) in wet hydrogen sulfide (H2S) service

In addition to the H2S "sour" services, Stork TMC offers non-sour corrosion testing including:

• Intergranular corrosion test according to ASTM A262
• Pitting and crevice corrosion test according to ASTM G48
• Ferric Chloride test according to ASTM A923 and ASTM G48
• Ferric Sulfate test according to ASTM G28
• Salt spray test according to ASTM B117

"The new laboratory will allow us to perform over 140 NACE tensile tests simultaneously," said Corrosion Laboratory Manager Dr. Eva Coronado. "We have installed 5 large walk-in vent hoods, which allow for turnover of a high volume of HIC tests, DCB specimens, as well as specialized R&D support. We also expect to offer high pressure/temperature H2S testing in Houston in the future, a service which Stork currently provides in Europe."

Emphasis on teamwork, safety
The corrosion lab's increased capacity and capabilities are complemented by an advanced safety system. "Ensuring the safety of our employees and visitors is an important design parameter in the new lab," said Stork TMC General Manager Mark S. Smith. "In addition to the walk-in vent hoods protecting the internal environment, the lab is equipped with H2S monitors and alarms. A full-scale packed bed scrubber filters all exhaust air. It's a safe environment for our workers and our community."

Integration of the two laboratories and the ongoing physical construction presented challenges, but Stork TMC teams were up to it, said Smith. "It was exciting to welcome new staff to Cavalcade and watch the building improvements. Everyone pulled together to make sure that customers were not negatively impacted by the changes that took place. The last few years have built us into a very strong team and I'm proud to be part of it."

The realization of long-term plans and practices
Stork TMC's new corrosion laboratory is the culmination of Stork's long-term strategy to become the Gulf Coast's "Center of Excellence" for materials testing services to the oil, gas, and chemical industries.

Arnout Lijesen, Stork Materials Technology Regional Manager, said, "The opening of our Advanced Corrosion Laboratory caps off a period during which Stork reengineered its materials technology operations to become a true Center of Excellence for testing and consulting. Beginning in 2007, we consolidated our services portfolio, acquired Stork MC and its prominent position in failure analysis and consultancy, carried out an extensive remodeling and upgrading of the materials and product testing capabilities of the Cavalcade Street facilities, and finally, completed construction of the new corrosion lab. The result is that Stork TMC now offers an unrivalled portfolio of testing and consulting services focused on oil, gas, and chemical companies." 

Lijesen added, "The visible signs of our progress show in our Cavalcade Street facility, but under the surface, our organization has also been changing. For over two years, we've been incorporating the principles and practices of Six Sigma and Lean methodology in a continuous improvement program that includes regular Kaizen and 5S workshops. 

"We invite friends and customers of Stork TMC to visit and discover for themselves what goes on behind the scenes in a Stork laboratory."

About Stork Testing & Metallurgical Consulting of Houston
Stork Testing & Metallurgical Consulting, Inc., a member of the Stork Materials Technology group of companies, is a nationally and internationally recognized engineering and testing company offering materials and product testing, nondestructive evaluation, failure analysis and consulting, and air emissions services. For more information, please visit the Stork website at www.storksmt.com/tmc.

^{Stork TMC's new Advanced Corrosion laboratory and Dr. Coronado}

^{NACE TM0177 Method A test cell at Stork TMC}