RISKWISETM for TotalFinaElf's refinery in Belgium
TWI has completed a major RISKWISETM RBI assessment project for a TotalFinaElf's (TFE) refinery in Belgium. The assessment was undertaken on a 52,000 barrels per day Platformer and Continuous Catalytic Regeneration Unit. The unit is the largest CCR in the world. The principal aim of the project was to implement a pilot RBI program. TWI's RISKWISETM RBI inspection planning software was used to demonstrate the benefits of RBI for the management of pressure equipment.
Two TWI RBI engineers were deployed to Belgium on a part-time basis, to facilitate the production of inspection plans. The equipment was subjected to a RISKWISETM 'Focus/Defocus' session to optimize inspection plans for equipment with a low Risk of Failure (RoF), and to propose remedial actions for any equipment with a high RoF. The RISKWISETM risk model converts failure likelihood to an estimated remaining life indicator (RLI) which is the only sound basis for deriving a safe inspection interval.
The findings of the work showed that an incremental increase in runlength (major inspection interval) was feasible for approximately 65% of the pressure equipment on the unit. The RBI project indicated how operating cost (inspection and maintenance) savings could be made, if major inspections were deferred until 2008.
The proposals considered the constraints imposed by the need for major operations turnarounds, the recommendations of the process licensor and the Belgium safety regulating authority. The findings of the study confirmed the plant's general concerns about the potential for corrosion under insulation (CUI) attack. Several key recommendations were also made by TWI following the pilot project, with a view to ensuring successful implementation of RBI across the rest of the refinery.
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Distribution of RISKWISETM Remaining Life Indicator (RLI) |
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