End-of-Life, Remaining-Life, and Fitness-for-Service Assessments

When evaluation of inspection results suggest that an asset is near its end of useful life, Asset Optimization Consultants can assist with Fitness for Service evaluations to determine if the asset is suitable for continued operation. Asset Optimization experts are experienced performing Level 1, 2, or 3 FfS assessments.
End-of-Life, Remaining-Life, and Fitness-for-Service Assessments

Fitness for service (FFS) is a methodology to determine the adequacy of a structure for continued service when it contains a flaw or is operating in a particular condition where there is risk of failure. Failure conditions and types of flaws may include:

  • brittle fracture
  • fire damage
  • geometrical irregularities
  • general corrosion / erosion
  • local metal loss
  • pitting corrosion
  • blisters
  • crack-like flaws

Cracking flaws may include:

  • amine cracking
  • ammonia cracking
  • carbonate cracking
  • hydrogen damage (H2S, HF)
  • hydrogen attack
  • caustic cracking in SS
  • chloride cracking in SS
  • polythionic cracking in SS

API RP 579 provides the methods and procedures intended to supplement and improve requirements of API 510, API 570, API 653 and API 750.

AOC consultants include engineering personnel with expertise in FFS assessments. We offer three levels of assessment per API RP 579.

Level1

  • Conservative screening
  • Minimum amount of inspection or component information
  • Plant inspection or engineering personnel

Level 2

  • More detailed less conservative with more accurate results
  • Inspection information similar to that of Level 1
  • Qualified engineering personnel

Level 3

  • The most detailed evaluation
  • The most detailed inspection and component information
  • Recommended analysis procedures based on numerical analysis techniques such as the finite element method

Service Inquiry

Related Services

Risk Based Inspection (RBI) Implementation and Planning

AOC has delivered thousands of sustainable Risk Based Inspection (RBI) programs earning the trust of owner operators.

Integrity Operating Window Development

Key parameters and mitigating actions for variables that may dramatically affect the intended design life of your asset

Damage Mechanism Review / Corrosion Study

One of the most important steps in an RBI project is the corrosion study or damage mechanism review.

Related Tools

API 580 Work Process Quiz

How well do you know RBI? Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of the API 580 risk-based inspection (RBI) work process.

RBI Potential Savings Calculator

Create mechanical integrity (MI) program value rather than it being seen as a necessary cost to minimize.

Related Training

API 580 Training

Is your Risk Based Inspection (RBI) program aligned with the API 580 Recommended Practice? Are you ready for certification?

API 581 Training

A deep dive into quantitative Risk Based Inspection (RBI) as outlined in API 581.

API 580 RBI Overview

What impact does Risk Based Inspection (RBI) have on my organization?

API 581 Overview

What's actually going on inside all of that fancy software? An introduction to the API 581 methodology.

RBI/MI Overview

A high level overview introducing Mechanical Integrity and Risk Based Inspection

Related Knowledge

How to Incorporate the New PHMSA Underground Gas Storage Requirements

This is a practical approach to incorporating the new PHMSA gas well rules into your integrity program with the rest of your surface and subsurface assets.

Risk Strategies for Pressure Retaining Equipment

What are equipment/inspection strategies in relation to mechanical integrity (MI) and risk based inspection (RBI)?

National Regulation 13 in Brazil

When working in Brazil please be aware that Brazil has its own Regulatory Standard – NR13 – that covers the minimum requirements for managing the integrity and inspection of steam boilers, pressure vessels, storage tanks and interconnecting pipes.

Plant Management 101: Common Work Processes

A dysfunctionality found in many refineries, chemical plants, and other production facilities, is a lack of common asset management work processes.

Insights on Improving Inspection Effectiveness

Since the evaluation of inspection effectiveness for RBI can be so subjective, following these suggestions can greatly improve the process.

API 580 (4th edition) Required Elements

What are the requirements of API 580, 4th edition?

Asset Value Management vs Asset Performance Management

A look at how the financial sector's concept of Asset Value Management can be applied to the petrochemical industry.

Proposed API 581 Inspection Plan Optimization Example

An example to compliment our earlier proposal for a risk analysis option that allows for individual damage mechanism risk calculation in API 581

Proposed API 581 Inspection Plan Optimization

A proposal for a risk analysis option that allows for individual damage mechanism risk calculation in API 581

RBI Value: Both Transitioning And From The Start

A look at how RBI adds value whether you are just starting out or transitioning from a traditional methodology.