Aging assets. the big choice of plant owners
Nowadays, many factors are seriously affecting major oil companies. Market conditions and uncertainties, aging assets, or decarbonization requirements will necessarily impact on their future investment strategies and business models. A transformation of their business paradigm is not only a challenge right now but also an opportunity as well, to continue leading the industry of energy. […]
Deformations in storage tanks
When deformations appear in existing storage tanks, both atmospheric and low pressure, which exceed the maximum defined in the API 653 standard, the immediate step is to analyze the serviceability of the equipment (1) to guarantee an acceptable level of safety and accurately determine its remaining life (2) as well. (1) FFS – Fitness For […]
Appearance of cracks in pressure equipment
The failure mechanism due to brittle fracture in pressure equipment manifests itself as a rapid and unexpected fracture since it occurs without prior plastic deformation. In order to reduce the risk of brittle breakage, the correct evaluation and inspection of this equipment are essential to detect possible cracks that trigger these failure processes. The usual […]
What is risk-based inspection (RBI)?
Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) methodology is a quantitative approach for establishing an inspection program using risk-based methods for static pressurized equipment, including pressure vessels, piping, tanks, pressure-relief devices (PRDs), and heat exchanger tube bundles, among others. Content Codes and standards The following RBI international standards and codes are within the most relevant: API 580 – Risk […]
GRP/FRP pipelines. Piping flexibility calculations
FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics pipes) or GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastics pipes) , both terms are interchangeable, are composite material pipes consisting of a polymer matrix reinforced with glass fibers. GRP pipes have very high corrosion resistance ability and are used widely for low-temperature corrosion-resistant applications, such as in corrosive water services. Currently, the GRP pipes are slowly […]
Identification of risks in industrial facilities
In the developmet of the current legislation on major accidents, there have been several European Directives that have been defining the current legal framework, creating the SEVESO legislation (SEVESO I, SEVESO II y SEVESO III). This legal framework has been updated periodically, taking into account the main lessons learned from industrial accidents occurred in the […]
