HSSE Management Tours - BG Group

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Key Integrity Barriers
Topic 9 – Pressure Safety (Relief) Valves
• Pressure safety or relief valves represent the last
line of defence in a pressure protection system
and are intended to safely dispose of hydrocarbons
from a pressurised containment system when a set
(high) pressure is reached.
• The critical issue for pressure safety valves (PSVs)
is ensuring that the periodic inspections and
tests have been carried out to prove that they will
operate when required, i.e. at the right pressure.
Failure to carry out the prescribed testing could
potentially lead to the PSV failing to function on
demand and so it is important to determine if there
are any overdue inspection and testing activities.
In the event that tests are deferred there should be
a structured system in place for the management
of deferrals that is appropriately approved by the
Asset Technical Authority.
HSSE Management Tours:
Asset Integrity Guide
• It is also important to ensure that the required tests
are carried out by suitably certified personnel using
suitably certified equipment.
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