Impacts for the Company
A collaboration with the university offers NOV a structured pathway to accelerate the development and validation of PAUT for in-situ inspection of critical equipment. By combining academic expertise in simulation, modelling and experimental validation with NOV’s field experience and operational requirements, the project can deliver optimised calibration and validation designs that are fully aligned with international codes and standards. This reduces technical risk while strengthening the robustness and defensibility of inspection procedures deployed within CBM programs.
For NOV, the commercial impact is significant. Implementing validated PAUT solutions enables inspection of components without full strip-down, directly reducing labour costs, minimising downtime, and improving asset availability for customers. The capture of high-quality, traceable inspection data also enhances predictive maintenance strategies, allowing more accurate planning of interventions and avoidance of unplanned failures. In addition, reducing unnecessary disassembly and component replacement supports sustainability goals by lowering material waste. Overall, the collaboration positions NOV as a proactive technology leader, delivering safer, more efficient, and data-driven lifecycle support solutions to the energy sector.
Impacts for the Academic Team
The KTP project between the University of Strathclyde and NOV delivers strong academic impact through the generation of novel inspection and calibration methodologies, validated models, and transferable knowledge in advanced NDT. The integration of fast and high-fidelity simulation with experimental validation will advance fundamental understanding of ultrasonic wave, geometry and defect interactions in complex geometries, never encountered by the academic team before, particularly in the context of inspection using multi-skip waves through multi-meter cylindrical oilwell industrial components. This is expected to result in high-quality scholarly outputs, including a Master’s thesis, journal publications and leading conference contributions (e.g. BINDT, and ASNT), as well as underpinning future research proposals and collaborations with the oil and gas sector. Furthermore, the project embeds cutting-edge research into teaching through case study development and undergraduate/postgraduate guest lecture delivery, strengthening the research inspired teaching agenda. Importantly, the co-development of knowledge with our industry partner and its translation into impact case studies and presentations for wider NDE community will enhance the academic visibility and real-world relevance of the research, positioning the work at the forefront of model-assisted phased array calibration, inspection procedure development and innovation.
Impacts for the KTP Associate
As a KTP Associate working on PAUT of complex oil and gas drilling components, I benefit enormously from the collaboration between NOV and the University of Strathclyde. This partnership places me at the interface of cutting-edge academic research and real-world industrial application.
Through NOV, I gain direct exposure to industry-scale challenges, including the inspection of geometrically complex, safety-critical drilling components. I develop a strong understanding of operational constraints, commercial drivers, and regulatory requirements, ensuring that my technical solutions are practical, robust, and aligned with business needs. Working within an industrial environment also strengthens my project management, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional communication skills.
At the same time, the University of Strathclyde provides academic rigor and access to advanced research expertise in PAUT. This enables me to apply state-of-the-art modelling, simulation, and data analysis techniques to improve defect detection and characterisation.
Overall, the collaboration accelerates my professional development, enhances my technical depth in PAUT, and positions me as a specialist capable of translating research innovation into measurable industrial impact.