European Recommended Practices for RBI (Risk Based Inspection)

[GL431]

In preparation for an RBI programme for oil and gas pressure vessels and piping (oil field production environment), I would like to make a bibliography of the relevant codes, recommended practices, research papers, etc.

While the American recommended practices are well known (API 580, API 581, API 571 and the others on HSE, Risk-Management and inspection), I am really trying to find out what the European guidelines or codes say specifically to the RBI topic. So far I have found only one: Health and Safety Executive - Contract Research Report 363/2001 - Best practice for risk based inspection as a part of plant integrity management.

Does anyone now which BS EN's or DIN EN's or ISO's or national codes and interpretations specifically say something about or touch RBI? Hints to standards or interpretations also in languages other than English are welcome.

The RBI programme will be implemented in an African location where no (known) local rules for technical facilities apply (literally: accepted international practice applies). The management of the facility does not want to deviate too much from European legislation and practice. The question is: what is that European practice?

If the question has already been answered in eng-tips on another occasion, could somebody please point me to the thread?

Thank you for your help.

 

[SJones]

A Google search, as you have probably performed already, suggests that Europe does not yet have a standardised approach to RBI of its own. Although the facilities are in Africa, it is highly likely that they have been designed and constructed to ANSI/ASME national standards (note: I use the term 'national' as they are American national standards as opposed to ISO that are "international" and EN that are "regional") which should support the case for applying API RBI methodology.

Steve Jones
Petroleum Development Oman LLC
Muscat
Sultanate Of Oman

 

[GL431]

Thank you Steve.

The equipment in the plant is fabricated to German rules (AD-Merkblatt), piping is ASME, gas pipelines are DVGW (German Gas Society). Some individuals in the plant management, operational and maintenance teams grew up with American standards, others with BS standards and the remainder with German standards.

You can appreciate that in this case it is quite a challenge not to mix standards on the one hand (which would be outright dangerous), and on the other hand to make sure that one is aware of all the different sets of standards and that they are fully accounted for in the analysis.

You are right, the API methodology is universal and we will apply it as a guideline in this case. One should, however, make sure that certain technical details of the AD-Merkblatt, etc. are not overlooked when judging pressure vessels.

 

[LSThill]

Team

http://www.bechtengineering.com/siteIndices/indexPresentationsProcessPower.htm

These PowerPoint presentations run best with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Early versions of Netscape will result in script errors.

Budzakoska Temper Bead Poster to resize slide, choose File on Internet Explorer menu bar, then Edit with PowerPoint (it is necessary to have PowerPoint on your computer)

Developments in Post Construction Codes and Standards in the United States (click here to download or print the Adobe version - 571 KB)

The Use of Risk Analysis in Decision-Making for Critical Infrastructure Protection (click here to download or print the Adobe version - 174 KB)

Development of a Guidance Document on Risk Analysis
(click here to download or print the Adobe version - 174 KB)

Use of Risk Analysis in Decision Making
(click here to download or print the Adobe version - 306 KB)

Critical Assets Protection Initiative
(click here to download or print the Adobe version - 302 KB)

What's New and Exciting in ASME Codes

What's New in ASME B31.3, Besides the Name, Process Piping

Overview of API 579

Crack-Like Flaws and Local Thin Areas - Background and Evaluation Methodology (Part 1)

Crack-Like Flaws and Local Thin Areas - Background and Evaluation Methodology (Part 2)

General Metal Loss and Local Thin Area Assessments in API 579

Please e-mail us (see below) if you would like to receive a printed copy of any of these presentations.

Piping Seminar (Adobe PDF files)

 

[SJones]

GL,

Having a casual surf of the UK HSE Research site, I stumbled across teh following:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr304.pdf

Perhaps it may be of some use to you if only to outline where RBI is at from a European standard point of view.

Steve Jones
Petroleum Development Oman LLC
Muscat
Sultanate Of Oman

 

[GL431]

Steve

Thank you for this tip. I must check how I could have missed that one. I am sure it will give me a lot of new search hints. I travelled a lot in the last month, which caused me not to pick up your hint earlier.

Regards