Petroleum Development Oman (PDO)

In January 2018, the test laboratory of RIO GmbH was certified by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) as an approved laboratory for HIC testing according to NACE TM 0284. This approval was confirmed in September 2019 when the RIO GmbH test laboratory was also granted approval for SSC testing according to NACE TM 0177.
The HIC test is used to test pipeline and pressure vessel steels, especially plates and pipes, for their resistance to sour gas (natural gas containing H2S). HIC tests can also be performed on fittings, valves and other components.
In high-strength steels, cracks can arise in the zone affected by heat in weld seams, due to the action of mechanical stress in atmospheres containing hydrogen sulphide. The testing of materials with regard to this damage mechanism known as "Sulphide Stress Cracking" (SSC) is done in accordance with NACE TM 0177.

Saudi Aramco approval

Since many years, the test laboratory of RIO GmbH has been approved by Saudi Aramco for HIC testing. RIO GmbH is the only lab in Germany approved for this test, and one of the two approved laboratories in Europe. Saudi Aramco based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, is the world's largest petroleum and natural gas company.