Blog: What's on the minds of Asset Optimization Consultants
From breaking ground with the development of the base resource document for API 580 to writing corporate risk policies for major refiners and petrochemical manufacturers, AOC's consultants have provided thought leadership in many areas of asset integrity, asset performance management, and risk based inspection. Our blog provides a forum for our consultants to share industry insights, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and anything else pertaining to what we do. Check in frequently to see what is on our minds.
Risk Strategies for Pressure Retaining Equipment
by Michael Hurley, 7/11/2024
Tags: API 580 API 581 Damage Mechanisms Mechanical Integrity Risk Based Inspection
What are equipment/inspection strategies in relation to mechanical integrity (MI) and risk based inspection (RBI)? It is a simple answer, but can be complicated to produce a documented set. API RP 581 has gone as far as the RAGAGEP can go since it is up to the Owner/User to define them as they are responsible for their risk. Knowing strategy/effectiveness tables are likely to be used without modification therefore AOC created a set that can be used as inspection recommendations out of the box.
API 580 (4th edition) Required Elements
by Steve Elmer, 6/17/2024
Tags: API 580 Risk Based Inspection
What are the requirements of API 580, 4th edition? It can be tedious sorting out the "shalls" from the "shoulds". Fortunately, our training team has been kind enough to do this for us. But don't tell them I told you.
Hidden Benefits of Risk Based Inspection (RBI)
by Paul Sheriff, 5/26/2021
Tags: HSE Mechanical Integrity Risk Based Inspection Value
The prime objective of a Site's Mechanical Integrity programme should be to eliminate any unintentional releases of stored energy. Most Sites implement Risk Based Inspection for three obvious reasons. However, as well as these reasons other less obvious but still positive benefits can be achieved through the implementation. These less obvious reasons could be equally valuable to the efficient operation of the Site.
National Regulation 13 in Brazil
by Paul Sheriff, 3/31/2021
Tags: Inspection Mechanical Integrity Regulation
Although Risk Based Inspection is well recognised as a good practice it has not been adopted by every country in the world. Brazil in particular has its own Regulatory Standard known as NR13 which it uses to set out some minimum time-based safety standards for the management and inspection of steam boilers, pressure vessels, some metal storage tanks and their interconnecting pipes. Hopefully the adoption of Risk Based Inspection is not far away.
A Practical Way to Incorporate the New PHMSA Underground Gas Storage Requirements Into your MI Program
by Michael Hurley, 3/11/2021
Tags: Damage Mechanisms Inspection Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Regulation Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management
PHMSA has out a new rule for underground natural gas storage facilities (UNGSFs). This is practical approach to incorporating gas wells into your mechanical integrity program with the rest of your surface and subsurface assets.
Plant Management 101: Common Work Processes
by Michael Hurley, 3/3/2021
Tags: Asset Performance Management Data Collection Data Validation Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Reliability Risk Management Training Work Process
This article deals with the dysfunctionality found in many refineries, chemical plants, and other production facilities. This can lead a facility to not reaching its value and reliability goals. One of the main reasons for this dysfunctionality is facility departments not using a common asset management work process.
Asset Value Management vs Asset Performance Management
by Michael Hurley, 2/16/2021
Tags: Asset Performance Management Mechanical Integrity Risk Based Inspection
VP of Technology, Mike Hurley, looks at the concept of Asset Value Management in the financial sector and compares it with Asset Performance Management (APM) with respect to our industry. He goes further to propose a new definition of AVM as applicable to the petrochemical industry and begins the conversation of AVM vs APM.
Proposed API 581 Inspection Plan Optimization Example
by Michael Hurley, 2/4/2021
Tags: API 581 Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Technology
This article deals with a proposal for a risk analysis option that allows for individual damage mechanism risk calculation. This is an example of how it can be applied and how it domonstrates value.
Proposed API 581 Inspection Plan Optimization
by Michael Hurley, 1/27/2021
Tags: API 581 Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Technology
This article deals with a proposal for a risk analysis option that allows for individual damage mechanism risk calculation. This allows for these individual damage mechanism risks to be compared to a risk target that when reached generates an inspection task with its own due date.
RBI Value: Both Transitioning And From The Start
by Michael Hurley, 1/21/2021
Tags: Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Based Inspection Risk Management
This article deals with the value of going directly to an Risk Based Inspection (RBI) program from nothing or transitioning from a time/condition based program and demonstrates that an RBI program is the efficient use of resources.
Possible PHMSA and OSHA Jurisdictional Clarity
by Michael Hurley, 1/14/2021
Tags: Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Regulation
PHMSA has out for comment, draft document information, that clarifies its jurisdiction in relation to OSHA for Midstream Processing Facilities.
Other Benefits of Risk Based Inspection Implementation
by Travis Gaston, 6/9/2020
Tags: Data Collection Data Validation Human Factors Inspection Risk Based Inspection
Aside from the direct benefits of implementing a Risk Based Inspection (RBI) program such as cost savings, optimized inspection planning, and reduced risk, RBI programs have a number of other benefits. This article looks at some of these secondary benefits including equipment verification, better organization of data, deeper understanding of facility status, and improved inter-team collaboration.
Guidelines for Providing Process Conditions for RBI - Part 7: Environmentally Assisted Cracking and RBI
by James Leonard, 9/1/2019
Tags: Damage Mechanisms Data Collection Risk Based Inspection
The 7th installment in our series covers environmental cracking. James Leonard, RBI Team Leader, discusses the additional process data that may be needed to determine environmental cracking damage potential when environment, stress, and metallurgy are so alligned so as to indicate susceptibility to this damage mechanism.
Guidelines for Providing Process Conditions for RBI - Part 6: High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA)
by Vibha Zaman, 8/26/2019
Tags: Damage Mechanisms Data Collection Risk Based Inspection
Gathering adequate process data to determine HTHA susceptibility is sometimes a difficult and time consuming task. Therefore a simple screening can be performed to determine if more detailed process data is required. Senior Corrosion Specialist, Vibha Zaman, discusses the screening process and what factors to consider when more data is required.
Insights on Improving Inspection Effectiveness
by Don Conger, 7/30/2019
Tags: Data Collection Inspection Risk Based Inspection
Don Conger, Senior Consultant at AOC, discusses the inherent subjectivity of evaluating inspection effectiveness. Too much subjectivity can lead to inconsistent results in your inspection effectiveness evaluation. This subjectivity can be mitigated through up-front activities including training, documentation, quality control, and planning.
Guidelines for Providing Process Conditions for RBI - Part 5: Low Temperature Damage Mechanisms
by Vibha Zaman, 6/17/2019
Tags: Risk Based Inspection
In our fifth article in our series on providing process conditions for Risk Based Inspection, one of our senior corrosion specialists discusses several damage mechanisms that are often associated with equipment operating at low temperatures. As with the other topics of this series, we point out additional factors, beyond the standard inputs, that need to be considered when dealing with equipment in this class.
Guidelines for Providing Process Conditions for RBI - Part 4: High Temperature Damage Mechanisms
by Leomar Penuela, 5/7/2019
Tags: Damage Mechanisms Probability Risk Based Inspection
In this fourth, of our eight-part series covering various guidelines for providing process conditions for Risk Based Inspection (RBI), a senior corrosion specialist discusses two groups of damage mechanisms that can result from high temperatures. We note that the standard inputs to your RBI software are not always sufficient to capture these damage mechanisms and provide some additional guidelines to take into consideration.
Announcing Our New Inspection Services Group
by Scott Jones, 3/26/2019
Tags: Inspection Office Life
Scott Jones, President of AOC, talks about our decision to add an Inspection Service Group to our team. This addition to AOC is indicative of our continued commitment to providing high quality services to our clients and partners.
Guidelines for Providing Process Conditions for RBI - Part 3: Process Fluids and Consequence Models
by Lawrence Petersen, 2/28/2019
Tags: Consequence Risk Based Inspection
In this third of our eight part series covering various guidelines for providing process conditions for RBI, one of our senior consultants discusses process fluids and consequence models with respect to Risk Based Inspection. This article identifies several factors to consider when selecting a representative fluid for the determination of consequence.
5 Things to Consider When Choosing Your API Training Provider
by Leon Johnson, 1/22/2019
Tags: Human Factors Risk Based Inspection Training
Our VP of Performance and Learning discusses some things to investigate when evaluating training providers for your API learning needs. While there are many vendors out there that bill their ability to provide training for American Petroleum Institute (API) certification and education, not all vendors are created equal. Some up-front research can go a long way toward a high-quality learning experience.
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