|
|
API
RBI (American
Petroleum Institute)
Risk-Based Inspection API RBI Software and the Base Resource
Document
You may not be able to predict the future, but Risk-Based
Inspection can help.
Using risk as a basis for prioritizing and managing an in-service
equipment inspection program.
Software Support, Development and Marketing
The Equity Engineering Group are the sole contractor and serve
in the project management role for the ongoing API RBI User
Group Support and Maintenance as well as the training program
for new users and Worldwide Marketing of the software and
technology.
API Risk Based Inspection Software
API RBI software, created by petroleum refinery and chemical
plant owner-users for owner-users, finds its basis in the
API 581 technical document. Practical, valuable features are
built into the technology, which is based on recognized and
generally accepted good engineering practices.
The purposes of the Risk-Based Inspection Program are:
- Screen operating units
within a plant to identify areas of high risk
- Estimate a risk value
associated with the operation of each equipment item in a
refinery or chemical process plant based on a consistent
methodology
- Prioritize the equipment
based on the measured risk
- Design a highly effective
inspection program
- Systematically manage the
risks associated with equipment failures
The RBI method defines the risk of operating equipment as the
combination of two separate terms: the
consequence of failure and the likelihood of failure.
Software Features Include:
- Analysis for pressure
vessels, tanks, piping and pressure relief devices
- Three levels of analysis
from qualitative > semi-quantitative > quantitative
- Automated inspection
planning
- Consequence values
expressed in terms of risk per unit area, risk per unit area
per year, and factor injury, equipment damage, downtime
costs, and toxic, explosive, fire damage, environmental,
effects in to the analysis
- Consequence models for
various fluids and gases commonly encountered in the
refining, petrochemical and chemicals industries are
included
- Discrete risk values for
each piece of equipment
- Qualitative risk matrix
rankings
- Financial risk calculation
options
- Data transfer utility to
speed up information entry
- Damage module calculators
for corrosion (localized and generalized), various cracking
mechanisms, fatigue, creep, high temperature hydrogen
attack, various embrittlement mechanisms, etc. are included
- Perform "What If" analyses
to consider changes and new equipment/unit reviews
- Report capabilities for
all risk scenarios, matrices, risk summaries, consequence
and likelihood basis reports and inspection plans
Value Through Synergy and
Consensus
Software licensees also have the privilege of participating in
at least 2 user group meetings each year. Surrounded by
industry owner user peers, participants share practical
implementation experiences and chart out the future evolution
of the technology. Over 22 owner user companies have
participated in and continue to work in the API RBI review and
development process. Few other technologies can claim the high
level of quality attained by subjecting the software to
on-going scrutiny by industry experts. This assures the best
possible technology and features are available for practical,
effective prioritization of inspection related resource
allocation and risk management.
API RBI software users may rest assured that this innovative
software program satisfies the requirements for RBI
technology, as set forth in the latest editions of API 510,
API 570 and 580 (draft), and allows the owner-user to
establish inspection plans as an alternative to the
traditional API 510 or API 570 approach.
Find out how API RBI software can help to better focus your
resource allocation while lowering risk by contacting or Greg
Alvarado (gcalvarado@equityeng.com) or Lynne Kaley (lckaley@equityeng.com) at the Equity Engineering Group
Background of API RBI
Technology and Software Development
The American Petroleum Institute (API) Risk Based Inspection
Project was initiated in May 1993 by an industry sponsored
group to develop practical methods for Risk Based Inspection.
This sponsor group was organized and administered by the API
and included the following members: Amoco; ARCO; Ashland; BP;
Chevron; CITGO; Conoco; Dow Chemical; DNO Heather; DSM
Chemicals; Exxon; Fina; Koch; Marathon; Mobil; Petro-Canada;
Phillips; Saudi Aramco; Shell; Sun; Texaco; and UNOCAL.
The API Publication 581, Risk-Based Inspection Base Resource
Document (BRD) clearly states there are limitations to the
methods presented, and lists some of those limitations. The
BRD states “to accurately portray the risk in a facility...a
more rigorous analysis may be necessary, such as the
traditional risk analysis described...”
According to the proposal for the API sponsor group project,
the BRD, and the methods in it were to be aimed at an
inspection and engineering function audience”. The BRD is
specifically not intended to “become a comprehensive reference
on the technology of Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA)”.
For failure rate estimations, the proposal promised
“methodologies to modify generic equipment item failure rates”
via “modificatio n factors”. In addition, the proposal
specified that for this activity, “the contractor would seek
to involve specialized expertise by drawing upon API Committee
on Refinery Equipment member resources for this task”. This
was done in the project by the formation of working groups of
sponsor members who directed the development of the
modification factors, with assistance by the contractor.
For consequence calculations, safety, monetary loss, and
environmental impact were all to be included. For safety
evaluations, the proposal noted that existing algorithms in
AIChE CPQRA guidelines are “complex and are best suited for
use in a computerized form”. It was proposed that “for ease of
use the safety consequences be limited to the evaluation of:
burning pools of liquids, ignited high velocity gas and liquid
releases, explosions of vapor clouds, and toxic impacts”.
The result of the BRD project and subsequent projects has been
the development of simplified methods for estimating failure
rates and consequences of pressure boundary failures. The
methods are aimed at persons who are not expert in QRA.
Subsequent computer programs have been developed to further
ease the application of the BRD methods.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) is a method for using risk as a
basis for prioritizing and managing the efforts of an
inspection program. In an operating plant, a relatively large
percentage of the risk is associated with a small percentage
of the equipment items. RBI permits the shift of inspection
and maintenance resources to provide a higher level of
coverage on the high-risk items and an appropriate effort on
lower risk equipment.
A potential benefit of a RBI program is to increase operating
times and run lengths of process facilities while improving,
or at least maintaining, the same level of risk.
|
|
