IRM Systems (IRMS), an authority in emergency pipeline repair with North American operations in Houston, Texas, recently announced the introduction of the Valve Integrity Management Solution (VIMS®), an innovative method of maintaining critical pipeline valves to the highest performance standards and criteria. VIMS claims to save up to 70 percent in lost production, excluding the substantial cost of associated labour, equipment and specialists.
Following a comprehensive audit of the number – and condition – of all valves on a designated pipeline, IRMS logs and analyses the data, integrating it via the VIMS into the operator’s existing systems and processes. Data on individual valves and assets can then be immediately accessed, in order to review a full range of benchmarked factors in, for example, design, construction, maintenance and reliability. By using this standardized approach to valve integrity maintenance – which relies upon solid risk and reliability engineering – operators can make informed decisions about inspection plans and repairs, saving time and money.