About PICA
Purpose, Cause & Values
Purpose:
PICA stands at the forefront of proactive pipeline condition assessment services which are the critical first step toward informed asset management programs. Our purpose is straight-forward and clear:
“We drive innovation in proactive inspections and condition analysis services to increase safety, reliability and extend the service life of critical pipeline assets in the world for a more sustainable future”
Cause:
“Proactive Inspection services that ultimately eliminates the need for pipelines to be completely replaced”
Critical pipeline infrastructure that the developed world depends on for daily existence is aging significantly and there is not enough money to replace this infrastructure, therefore, proactive inspections and targeted repairs is the cornerstone to extending the reliability and service life of this critical infrastructure to facilitate societies’ growth in a more sustainable way.
Values:
Core Values That Drive Success
At the heart of PICA’s operation lies a set of core values that transcend mere words, translating into actionable principles that ensure excellence in service delivery.
Integrity
Exemplifies the highest ethics, integrity and reliability when dealing with one another, clients, suppliers, and communities.
PICA stands as a paragon of integrity, fostering trust through the highest ethical standards. Clients, suppliers, and communities recognize PICA for its reliability and ethical practices, critical in a sector where trust is not just valued but essential.
Safety & Quality
Strong commitment to the highest standards in safety and quality for ourselves and our clients.
A relentless commitment to safety and quality is in PICA’s DNA. We don’t just adhere to industry standards; we strive to set them, ensuring the well-being of our team and clients alike.
Support for Our People
We attract, develop, and retain great people in a supportive work environment where everyone can reach their highest potential.
Recognizing that a company is only as strong as its people, PICA offers unwavering support for its employees. They foster an environment where potential can be reached, and excellence is achieved.
Collaboration
Operate as an integrated team of competent & dedicated individuals working seamlessly across geographies and functions.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of PICA’s approach. We operate not just as a service provider but as an integrated partner, with a team of dedicated individuals that work across disciplines and geographies to deliver seamless service.
Customer Focused
Work in partnership with our clients to understand their needs and deliver unique solutions and gauge our success through our client’s eyes.
Being customer-focused means PICA’s success is measured through the prism of client satisfaction. Understanding client needs and tailoring unique solutions is our modus operandi.
Continuous Improvement
Guided by goals, feedback, and our processes, we continually strive for improvement in all aspects of our business.
Continuous improvement is not a catchphrase but a daily pursuit at PICA. Armed with goals, feedback, and refined processes, we are on a never-ending journey to better our best.
Innovation
PICA is in passionate pursuit of new technologies, capabilities and refined service offering outputs to drive exceptional results for our clients.
Our passion for innovation propels us to discover new technologies and capabilities through leverage of our strategic partnership with Russell NDE and ensuring that the service solutions we provide today are better than yesterday’s and pave the way for a more advanced tomorrow.
Why PICA?
Municipalities, asset managers, and pipeline owners & operators face a defining challenge in maintaining the integrity of aging infrastructure. The answer lies not in the monumental task of replacement but in the strategic, intelligent approach championed by PICA. Embracing PICA’s service solutions is more than a business decision—it is an investment in the future, a commitment to safety, and a testament to responsible stewardship.
PICA’s team members are experienced inspection and condition assessment professionals with many 100’s of successful projects completed over 15+ years. PICA distinguishes itself with its Best-in-Class service delivery.
1. Tailored Service Solutions
Every pipeline system is unique, and PICA’s methodologies reflect this diversity. By providing customized inspection programs, PICA ensures that each client receives the most relevant and effective service for their specific infrastructure.
2. Expert Analysis
Data alone is not enough. PICA’s team of experts interprets inspection results, translating complex information into actionable insights for asset managers.
3. Industry Leadership
PICA does not just follow best practices; it sets them. Through continuous improvement and research with its parent company Russell NDE, PICA has exclusive rights to this technology which are at the heart of its service offerings. This puts PICA at the vanguard of inspection services, pushing the industry towards ever-higher standards.
4. Technical Innovation
Utilizing state-of-the-art inspection tools offered exclusively to PICA by its parent company Russell NDE with its 50+ year history in electromagnetic and other technology development, PICA offers a level of diagnostic precision that is unrivaled. This technology yields comprehensive data that forms the bedrock of informed decision-making.
The critical infrastructure upon which society rests cannot be left to the attrition of time without intervention. Proactive inspections and condition analysis services are indispensable in the campaign to safeguard this infrastructure.
PICA’s commitment to “driving innovation in proactive inspections & condition analysis services” is not just a corporate purpose; it is an essential strategy for ensuring that our pipelines—these lifelines of modern existence—continue to serve us safely, reliably, and sustainably for generations to come.
Therefore, asset managers and pipeline owners & operators are not just choosing a service provider in PICA; they are partnering in a cause that upholds the safety and prosperity of our communities and environment.
History
PICA (pronounced pee’-ca) is an acronym for Pipeline Inspection and Condition Analysis. We are a Canadian-based company with operations throughout North America, South America, Australia, and Asia. PICA USA is incorporated in Colorado and employs client-facing and project-delivery professionals in California, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina.
PICA’s roots in pipeline inspection technologies go back to 1972 when Dave Russell, our founder, and president, incorporated Russell Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) Systems in Edmonton, Canada. In the late 1990s, Russell began applying Remote Field Eddy Current (RFEC) technology, now called Remote Field Testing (RFT), to metallic water mains in the United States and around the world. The demand for water main inspections grew, leading to the creation of PICA. The graphic below illustrates Russell NDE and PICA’s long-standing leadership role in the pipeline inspection industry.
1984
Russell NDE develops the world’s first Ferroscope instrument using RFT to inspect carbon steel heat exchanger tubes
1990
Russell NDE invents RFT technology for inspection of metal pipes in water and O&G service
1998
Russell NDE becomes 1/3 owner of The Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC)
1999
Russell NDE is involved in the development of the original PCCP inspection technology
2006
Russell builds its first RFT tool for inspecting large diameter water pipes
2008
PICA Canada is federally incorporated
2008 – Present
Extensive experience is gained under PICA Corp. on pipe inspections from 75mm to >2m
2009
PICA USA is incorporated in Denver, CO
2010
Russell NDE develops Bracelet Probe for internal H2S damage detection from outside the pipe
2020
PICA develops new innovative approach to assess preload in PCCP pipe
March 2022
The patent for Near Field Testing (NFT) runs out and PICA begins making NFT tools for PCCP
April 2022
Newly designed NFT tool used in the field for the first time
January 2024
Russell NDE develops new multi sensor sphere technology for Pre-Screening NDT Services