Inspectioneering is pleased to announce that our friend, colleague, author and industry leader, Clay White, has recently taken over as chair of API’s Subcommittee on Inspection (SCI). Previously serving as vice-chair of the SCI for 3 years, Mr. White inherited the position from Ray Konet of Valero Energy Corporation on January 1, 2014. He has been actively involved with API for the last 15 years and brings over 26 years of petrochemical and refining industry experience to his new post. Over his long career, Mr. White has held positions with both owner-user companies and central engineering/consulting firms, and has extensive experience dealing with Risk Based Inspection, Fitness-For-Service, Corrosion and Materials and other mechanical integrity related issues in both the refining and petrochemical industries. He currently serves as the Fixed Equipment Network Lead for Phillips 66.
When asked about Clay White taking over as chair, Ray Konet, Fixed Equipment Reliability Director for Valero, said "Clay has demonstrated strong leadership and interpersonal skills as SCI vice-chair and as chair of other task groups, such as the one for the new API RP 584 on Integrity Operating Windows. He doesn’t shy away from bringing new ideas and concepts to progress our codes and standards. SCI is in good hands." Similarly, John Reynolds, industry expert and active participant in API, said that "Clay was a superb choice to replace the outgoing SCI Chair, Ray Konet, who provided excellent leadership for the Inspection Subcommittee over the last 3 years." Inspectioneering recently had an opportunity to chat with Mr. White to discuss his new role as SCI chair. You can see a few highlights from the exchange below.
What do you hope to accomplish in your tenure as SCI Chair? Are there existing shortcomings that you plan to address?
Clay White (CW): There are a number of very important issues facing our industry, including challenges to our credibility and our ability to "self-regulate" through industry consensus documents. I hope to continue the improvement of our existing critical codes/standards and push for new "inspirational" best practices to challenge the paradigm.
What new recommended practices or updates are currently in the pipeline?
CW: We have recently completed three new Recommended Practices; RP584 (Integrity Operating Windows), RP585 (Pressure Equipment Integrity Incident Investigation Investigations) and RP583 (Corrosion Under Insulation and Fireproofing) and all will be published this year. Currently we are working on significant re-writes to 580 where we are looking to add some minimum requirements ("shalls") into this Recommended Practice, as well as 570 (Piping Inspection Code) and 574 (Inspection Practices for Piping System Components).How do you hope to leave SCI when your term as chair is over?
CW: I really hope to leave the SCI programs in good shape (no extensions or exceptions to work in our Code documents), substantially improved (specifically on 580 and 570) and hope to work more closely in the future with the Subcommittee on Corrosion & Materials’ (SCCM) standards and practices like the new RP 970 on Corrosion Control Diagrams that was just initiated.
Congratulations to Clay White on the new position and to API for continuing to bring together the best and brightest in the world to collaborate towards a safer and more reliable future for our industry.
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