HSSE Management Tours - BG Group

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Key Integrity Barriers
Topic 10 – Pressure Vessels
• Pressure vessels are key components in a
pressurised containment system. Vessels facilitate
hydrocarbon processing such as separation, mixing,
distillation, reaction, etc.
• The critical issue for pressure vessels is ensuring
that the periodic inspections have been identified,
carried out to the full requirement, results assessed
and that there are none overdue. Vessel failure
usually occurs as a result of material degradation
(from corrosion or erosion, etc.) and it is critical that
inspections take place in order to understand the
status of the vessels’ structural integrity.
• There are several inspection techniques ranging
from non-destructive testing (NDT) methods
such as ultrasonic inspections and radiography to
external visual or internal inspections.
HSSE Management Tours:
Asset Integrity Guide
• All deferred inspections need to be done against
the background of an agreed and robust system for
management of deferrals that is suitably approved.
Just as critical, is ensuring that the required tests
and inspections are carried out appropriately and
abnormal results are assessed by a competent
person.
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