Third-Party Inspector

Killick Group; San Juan de Terranova; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Killick Group seeks an Onshore Vendor Surveillance Inspector to perform rigorous QA/QC surveillance, auditing, and final inspections on OCTG, drill pipe, drilling tools, and wellhead systems in the St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador area.

The role focuses on asset integrity, reliability, and compliance to offshore standards. Ideal candidates have 7+ years as a QA/QC inspector in tubular goods, with ASNT Level II credentials preferred.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience as a QA/QC inspector in tubular goods and drilling equipment for offshore environments.
• Active ASNT Level II certifications (or equivalent) in MT, PT, UT, VT are highly preferred for auditing vendor technicians.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and surveillance onshore/offshore facilities to ensure QA/QC compliance for OCTG, drill pipe, and wellhead systems.
• Witness and document FATs, hydrostatic tests, and pressure-containment evaluations per API 6A and related standards.
• Audit vendor ITPs, QC procedures, and technician qualifications before production begins.
• Verify dimensional measurements (OD/ID, remaining wall thickness) and surface conditions across joints and tools.
• Ensure traceability by compiling MTRs, mill certifications, NDT reports, and torque logs into product pedigrees.

Skills

QA/QC inspection

NDT inspections

ASNT Level II

Offshore equipment auditing

Inspection planning

Education

ASNT Level II certification

Tools

Ultrasonic thickness gauges

Calibrated micrometers

NDT inspection gear

Job description

The Onshore Vendor Surveillance Inspector acts as a third party on behalf of the client operator, attending various supplier, manufacturing, and machine shop facilities in the St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador area. The primary objective is to execute rigorous Quality Assurance (QA) surveillance, auditing, and final inspections on OCTG, drill pipe, drilling tools, and wellhead systems destined for offshore Newfoundland environments.

The inspector assures asset integrity and equipment reliability to mitigate the high financial, environmental, and operational risks of downhole or subsea structural failures in Atlantic Canada's offshore projects.

Key Responsibilities

Drill Pipe Inspection Surveillance & Monitoring

• DS-1 Category Enforcement: Monitor and audit vendor compliance with strict TH Hill DS-1 (Category 3-5 or Service Category 5) guidelines for high-risk offshore drill strings.
• Full-Length EMI & UT Surveillance: Witness and audit automated Full-Length Electromagnetic Inspection (EMI) and Ultrasonic Testing (UT) of the pipe body. Verify calibration standards, transducer coverage, and signal-to-noise ratios on the vendor's inspection units.
• Tool Joint & Connection Auditing: Oversee wet fluorescent magnetic particle inspection (WFMT) on tool joint slips and critical cross-sectional areas to detect tight fatigue cracks.
• Dimensional Wear Verification: Audit vendor measurements for tool joint outside diameter (OD), inside diameter (ID), tong space, and remaining wall thickness using calibrated micrometers and ultrasonic thickness gauges.
• Refurbishment Oversight: Monitor the hardbanding application processes (e.g., Arnco, Duraband) and internal plastic coating (IPC) visual integrity checks for uniformity and holiday-free execution.
• API 5CT & ISO 11960 Compliance: Enforce exact standard criteria during receipt, processing, and final inspection of casing and tubing lots.
• Full-Body UT & Wall Thickness Mapping: Audit high-speed ultrasonic wall thickness mapping systems to ensure minimum wall thickness tolerances (typically 87.5% of nominal) are met across the entire length of the joint.
• Visual Thread & Seal Evaluation: Manually audit 100% of critical metal-to-metal seals and internal torque shoulders on premium connections. Identify and reject micro-galling, pit depths, or handling dings that compromise seal integrity.
• Drift Testing Surveillance: Witness full-length mechanical drift testing using correct API or special clearance drift mandrels to guarantee unrestricted downhole tool passage.
• Hydrostatic Test Witnessing: Audit suppliers mill hydrostatic test logs. Verify hold times, gauge calibration, and pressure calculations to ensure structural sealing integrity under maximum offshore design pressures.
• Proprietary Connection Audits: Perform advanced visual and dimensional inspections on premium proprietary connections, specifically VAM (e.g., VAM TOP, VAM 21), Tenaris (e.g., Blue, Wedge), and Vallourec designs, as well as standard API threads.
• Thread Gauge Audits: Validate connection profiles, lead, taper, and thread depth using precision mechanical gauges against specific proprietary connection engineering prints.
• Torque & Makeup Monitoring: Witness and verify optimum torque-turn graphs during premium connection makeup. Ensure correct thread compound (dope) application, torque values, and computer-analyzed graphs conform to manufacturer limits.

Onshore Supplier Surveillance & Factory Acceptance

• Local Source Inspection: Conduct routine and milestone-based quality surveillance at onshore manufacturing plants, machine shops, and pipe yards located in and around St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
• FAT Witnessing: Witness mandatory Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), hydrostatic testing, gas testing, and pressure-containment structural evaluations on wellhead and Christmas tree assemblies under API 6A guidelines.
• Vendor Process Audits: Review and approve the supplier’s Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), Quality Control procedures, and technician qualifications before production begins.

Equipment Inspection & Offshore Readiness

• Drilling Tools & BHA Oversight: Oversee structural testing and dimensional verification of bottom hole assemblies (BHA), mud motors, stabilizers, and specialized drilling tools under strict TH Hill DS-1 criteria.
• Preservation for Harsh Environments: Inspect critical rust-prevention coatings, storage thread protectors, handling procedures, and shipping preparation to guarantee assets withstand the corrosive maritime environments of offshore Newfoundland.
• Traceability & Data Book Review: Audit and compile all Material Test Reports (MTRs), mill certifications, NDT reports, and torque logs into a complete product pedigree packet before signing off on final product release.

Required Technical Competencies & Standards

• API 5CT: Casing and Tubing Specifications.
• TH Hill DS-1 (Volumes 1-4): Drilling Equipment Manufacturing and Drill Stem Inspection.
• API 6A: Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment Parameters.
• API 7-1 / RP 7G-2: Drill Stem Elements and Inspection Frameworks.
• Vendor Specifications: Deep understanding of tolerance charts and inspection criteria for VAM, Tenaris, and Vallourec premium connections.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

Location: Must be based in or able to commute reliably to vendor locations across St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and surrounding industrial parks (e.g., Mount Pearl, Paradise).

Experience: 7+ years of dedicated experience as a QA/QC inspector in tubular goods and drilling equipment, with a proven track record of handling equipment intended for offshore environments.

NDT Credentials: Active ASNT Level II certifications (or equivalent international standards) in MT, PT, UT, and VT are highly preferred for auditing vendor technicians.

Logistics & Safety: Familiarity with Newfoundland onshore vendor site safety protocols and a deep understanding of marine asset preservation techniques.

Only candidates whose qualifications align with project requirements will be contacted.

Killick Group is committed to equal opportunity and values a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration based on objective criteria without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.