Industries/Mining
Mining NDT InspectionStructural steel, slurry and process piping, and the wall-thickness data that says how much steel is left.
Mining and mineral processing wear steel out for a living. Prime Inspections brings weld inspection, ultrasonic wall-thickness surveys and encoded corrosion and wear mapping to mine site and plant assets — structural steel, slurry and process piping, tanks and pressure vessels — and reports them against the code your specification names.
The question on a mine site is usually not "is there a flaw" but "how much wall is left, and where". That is measurement work, and measurement is what encoded ultrasonics is for. We supply the measured data and the map; the fitness-for-service decision stays with the owner and their engineering.
- Structural steel
- Slurry piping
- Thickness surveys
- Wear mapping
- Tanks & vessels
What we inspect
Generic method application — tell us the asset and the code, and we will tell you which method answers it.
Structural steel & supports
MT and PT for surface and near-surface flaws on structural steel, frames, supports and weldments subject to vibration and cyclic loading, with radiographic or ultrasonic inspection of the welds where the specification calls for volumetric coverage.
Slurry & process piping
UT wall-thickness surveys on slurry, process and water piping, and RT, PAUT or AUT on the welds — the same techniques our crews run on plant and pipeline circuits, applied to the lines that wear fastest.
Wear & corrosion mapping
Encoded phased-array corrosion mapping: remaining wall thickness and pit depth measured, positioned and recorded, and a C-scan map documented for your integrity or maintenance program.
Tanks, vessels & fabrication
Floor and shell UT thickness surveys, MT and welded-seam inspection on tanks; UT, PAUT and RT on pressure vessel welds, nozzles and internals; and weld inspection on shop-fabricated spools, skids and structures before they ship.
How we work on an industrial site
Measurement, then a map
Remaining wall thickness and pit depth are measured and recorded, and a C-scan map is produced. The numbers go into your program; the call about what to do with them stays with you.
Built for the shutdown window
Planned shutdowns, maintenance outages and emergency call-outs are the rhythm we already work to, with crews scaled to the window and 24/7 response.
One crew, every method
The same mobilization covers radiography, encoded ultrasonics, UT thickness surveys, MT, PT and VT, so a structural weld, a slurry line and a tank shell do not need three vendors.
Inspected to your code
Results interpreted and reported against the governing code in your specification — ASME B31.3, ASME Section VIII, API 653 or AWS D1.1 as applicable.
Codes of record
Process and slurry piping is normally examined to ASME B31.3, structural welds to AWS D1.1, pressure vessels to ASME Section VIII and aboveground storage tanks to API 653. Examination requirements come from ASME Section V; the acceptance criteria are whatever your specification names. Where your site works to a different standard, we inspect and report to that one.
Methods we run on this work
Frequently asked questions
What does Prime inspect on a mine or mineral processing site?
Structural steel, frames and supports; slurry, process and water piping welds; UT wall-thickness surveys and encoded corrosion and wear mapping; tanks and pressure vessels; and shop-fabricated spools, skids and structures.
Which methods apply to wear and corrosion?
Ultrasonic wall-thickness surveys for the numbers, and encoded phased-array corrosion mapping where remaining wall thickness and pit depth have to be positioned and recorded as a C-scan map.
Do you decide whether a line is still fit for service?
No. We supply the measured data and the map; the fitness-for-service and remaining-life decisions stay with the owner and their engineering.
What code do you report against?
ASME B31.3 for process and slurry piping, AWS D1.1 for structural welds, ASME Section VIII for pressure vessels and API 653 for aboveground storage tanks — or whichever standard your site specification names.
Do you provide rope access or MSHA-certified services?
No. Prime performs and documents the nondestructive examination. We do not provide rope access, hoist, shaft, headframe or wire-rope inspection, or MSHA certification of any kind.
Can you work a planned shutdown?
Yes — planned shutdowns, maintenance outages and emergency call-outs, with crews scaled to the window and 24/7 response from our offices in Katy and Lubbock, Texas plus field locations nationwide.
Can you inspect fabricated structures before they ship?
Yes. Weld inspection on shop-fabricated spools, skids and structures in the fabrication shop or the yard, so a rejection is found where it is cheapest to fix.
How do I get a quote?
Use our contact form or call (281) 944-3840 with the asset, the material and the governing standard, and our team will follow up.
Wear survey or shutdown scope?
Tell us the assets and the window — we will put certified technicians on it.