Offshore staff

STRAUME, Norway --AGR Group has signed a worldwide partnership agreement with GE's pipeline inspection and integrity services operation.

The five-year agreement has an estimated value of NOK 150 million ($24.9 million). It covers the deployment of AGR PipeTech's in-line inspection tools and services which include the PipeScan and WeldScan systems.

Under the arrangement, AGR will provide inspection services and project management for pipeline inspection projects up to 10 km (6.2 mi). PII will undertake inspection for larger projects, as well as providing data processing and analyses for the full range of projects.

AGR PipeTech has collaborated with GE Oil & Gas on a number of pipeline inspection projects in Africa, Europe, and Asia.

AGR PipeTech's PipeScan system measures the thickness of walls, identifying imperfections using ultrasonic measurements. WeldScan works on the PipeScan platform, performing radial scanning over the pipe circumference to identify imperfections in girth welds or base material.

"This new partnership agreement will take our cooperative arrangement to a much higher level," said Johan Møller Warmedal, executive VP, AGR Field Operations. "We are delighted to be working with GE in this way – it is a tremendous endorsement of our technology and services."

5/25/2007