Is LIBS the Right Technology for Your Oil & Gas or Petrochem PMI Program?

Are you thinking about adopting new technologies this year for your positive material identification (PMI) program in your oil and gas or petrochem plant?

If so, you may want to consider Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), the analytical technique using a high-focused laser to determine the chemical composition of materials. LIBS is an important technology used in the oil and gas industry for positive material identification of piping, pressure vessels, valves, pumps, and finished welds, or to grade unknown materials to regain traceability. Changing the amount of carbon in these products can change the properties of the steel including tensile strength, hardness, weldability, ductility, and corrosion resistance. It could event affect the safety of your operations, so identifying the material is crucial.

If you want to learn more about the technology and how it’s used, here are some articles we published that might help you in deciding to move to LIBS technology…

What is LIBS and What Does It Have to Do With PMI?
Fatal accidents and injuries, as well as leaks, premature pipe replacements, loss of property, and unplanned outages at refineries, chemical plants and gas processing facilities often can be traced back to equipment failures due to faulty or counterfeit metal building components or because piping is made from material that does not meet specifications. LIBS analysis is vital to calculating carbon equivalency prior to welding to determine heat affected zone hardenability. Learn about the LIBS analysis process.
Laser Safety Tips for LIBS Instruments
Safety precautions must be taken whenever using a LIBS analyzer. The instrument, including the laser, can pose a danger if not used properly, so precautions should be taken. Read about these topics of safety that should be addressed when using a LIBS analyzer: Laser Safety, Instrument Safety, Battery Safety, Safe Handling of Argon Cartridges.
10 Features to Look for When Purchasing a Handheld LIBS Analyzer
Before purchasing a handheld LIBS analyzer, be sure to evaluate these features — from analytical accuracy to weight to ruggedness — before making your decision.
PMI Technologies: What’s the Difference Between XRF, LIBS, and OES?
Each verification program will have different requirements when it comes to identifying the material to be analyzed. Each alloy or material will have various elemental requirements and restrictions. Understanding each technique will help determine which technology to use to verify the material. Understanding the limitations and differences in each of these techniques is critical when performing material analysis.
Using XRF + LIBS Together: When and How It Makes Sense
Oil and Gas, chemical, and power generation industries use various materials ranging from carbon steel through stainless steel to super alloys. Hence both handheld XRF and LIBS have to be used by these industries or third party inspection companies to verify the compliance of material either prior to commissioning or retroactively testing. Using handheld XRF and LIBS in tandem allows inspection companies to achieve ultimate maneuverability and mobility. Handheld XRF and Handheld LIBS are more complementary than competing techniques, each excelling in determining the composition and in verifying the grades of different families of alloys.
Repeatability in LIBS Testing: Why Is It Critical?
Repeatability in LIBS measurements refers to how close a series of measurements from a single alloy is, when taken successively, using the same analyzer, and run by the same operator. Another term for repeatability is test-retest reliability; when you retest or re-measure an alloy sample, you should get essentially the same result, with a value close to the 3 sigma precision, or inversely, within approximately the 3 sigma error value. Repeatability in your measurements helps to ensure quality in your process and your outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions about Metal Analysis using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
Find the answers to our most frequently asked questions about LIBS, including:
- How does LIBS work?,
- What type of laser is used?,
- Are handheld LIBS analyzers safe to operate?
- What type of training is required?
- Is sample preparation required?
- …and more.

These are just some of articles addressing LIBS technology. Want to learn more in an easy-to-understand way, download the free ebook: LIBS technology for non-scientists

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