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Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST) are large containers usually made of metal and resting on top of the ground, designed to temporarily hold a number of different liquid or gas substances. These substances can range from water to crude oil to various chemical...
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Advanced Ultrasonic Backscatter Technique (AUBT) involves a collection of ultrasonic techniques used for detecting High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (
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Amine Cracking is a form of stress corrosion cracking, which is related to alkaline and carbonate stress corrosion cracking. Amine cracking is often intertwined with wet hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbonate cracking, as amines, carbonates and wet sulfides often exist...
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Ammonia Stress Corrosion Cracking is a form of stress corrosion cracking that commonly occurs in brass tubes in cooling water service that has been contaminated with ammonia due to biological growths or other contamination. This cracking can also occur when ammonia is...
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Asset Integrity Management (AIM) is a standard of operating that aims to protect equipment, health, safety, and environment. While there are numerous definitions of AIM, we define AIM as the cradle-to-grave...
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A Boiler is a piece of equipment which acts as a closed vessel to convert the water inside into steam. In order for this to happen chemical energy from a fuel source such as oil or gas is converted into heat by combustion. The heat is then transferred to the contained water,...
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A Bolt is a threaded fastener that has an external male thread used in conjunction with nuts to attach separate pieces of equipment together. Bolts are often used to hold together sections of pipelines,...
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Brittle Fracture is the sudden, very rapid cracking of equipment under stress where the material exhibited little or no evidence of ductility or plastic degradation before the fracture occurs. Unlike most other tensile failures, where the material plastically strains...
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Carbonate Stress Corrosion Cracking (ACSCC) is a common problem in the oil and gas production, petroleum refining, and petrochemical/chemical processing industries. ACSCC is a form of alkaline stress corrosion cracking that often occurs more aggressively at higher pH and high...
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Cathodic Protection (CP) is one of the most effective methods for preventing most types of corrosion on a metal surface. In some cases, CP can even stop corrosion damage from occurring. Metals, especially ferrous metals, corrode in the presence of oxygen, water, and other...
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Caustic Stress Corrosion Cracking, also referred to as Caustic Embrittlement, is a form of degradation that is caused when a component operates in a caustic environment. It is one of the most prevalent afflictions in the industry and one of many environmental cracking...
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Coatings are a type of cover placed over metals to help prevent external corrosion from forming on the metals. Properly applied coatings are essential in maintaining a long useful life for structures and certain equipment. Coatings can include covers such as external paints,...
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Coker Units, or Cokers, are oil refinery processing units that convert residual oil and process residues leftover after the initial crude distillation into higher value products and petroleum...
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A Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) is a multipurpose software tool used to create a working record of a facility's maintenance management data, including but not limited to equipment...
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Condition Monitoring Locations (CMLs) are designated locations on pressure vessels and piping where thickness monitoring...
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Cooling Towers are heat rejection devices that extract waste heat to the atmosphere through the cooling of a water stream to a lower temperature. Common applications for cooling towers are providing cooled water for air-conditioning, manufacturing and electric...
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Corrosion and Materials is a field of study that focuses on understanding the causes and mechanisms of corrosion. According to API 510...
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Defined at the Process and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) level, a Corrosion Circuit is typically shown in a document as part of a corrosion/materials diagram (CMD) or as part of a damage mechanisms review (DMR) diagram. The circuit represents a common corrosion environment...
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A Corrosion Control Document (CCD), sometimes also known as a corrosion report, corrosion manual, or critical process variable, is a document responsible for summarizing a unit's process description and...
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Corrosion Monitoring is a process that evaluates and monitors equipment components, structures, process units, and facilities for signs of corrosion. Monitoring programs aim to identify certain conditions in order to extend the life and serviceability of assets while increasing...
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In the simplest terms, Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) is any type of corrosion that occurs due to moisture present on the external surface of insulated equipment. The damage/attack can be caused by one of multiple factors, and can occur in equipment operating at ambient, low,...
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Cracking is the the physical response in a material or piece of equipment to excessive exposure to damaging conditions. Cracking is usually caused by stress, although it can be exacerbated by other factors. It should go without saying, that you do not want cracking in...
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Creep is the time-dependent deformation of a material under load. It is a generally slow developing form of degradation occurring in metals under stress and higher pressures. The amount of creep deformation that will be experienced is highly dependent upon the level of stress,...
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According to API 570, Piping Inspection Code: In-service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration of Piping Systems, Critical Check Valves (CCV) are defined as check valves in piping systems that have been identified as vital to
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Damage Mechanisms (also referred to as degradation mechanisms) is a general term referring to any cause of problems or failures within process equipment. These can range from corrosion, to...
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Dead Legs are areas of a piping system that rarely see flow, yet are still exposed to process, even if not explicitly cut off. In an effective asset integrity management program...
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Deaerators are devices that are used to remove dissolved gases, primarily oxygen but also carbon dioxide, from the feedwater of boilers through a process known as deaeration. Deaerators are necessary...
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The Oil and Gas industry is commonly divided into the three major sectors: Upstream, which includes oil and gas exploration and production;
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Eddy Current Array (ECA) is a form of nondestructive eddy current testing that involves electronically driving eddy current coils placed next to each other in a probe assembly. Each coil in the probe...
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Electro-Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) is an Ultrasonic Testing (UT) technique that generates sound in the component being inspected rather than the transducer. Because the sound is generated in the part inspected instead of the transducer, EMAT is a completely...
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Embrittlement is the process of a material becoming brittle due to a loss of ductility. Hydrogen embrittlement, temper embrittlement, liquid metal embrittlement, and sulfide stress cracking (SSC) are all examples of embrittlement. Embrittlement can be a very dangerous...
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Under an Engineering & Procurement...
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Erosion Corrosion is a term that refers to the combined effect of erosion and corrosion on a metal surface which is caused by the rapid flow of any turbulent liquid through piping. The rate of erosion is dependant on the level of turbulence, with more turbulent liquid being more...
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It is undeniable that every plant will experience equipment failure at some point during its lifetime. Despite this, avoiding failures is the goal of every asset integrity professional in the oil and gas industry. As...
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Fatigue is a failure mechanism that involves the cracking of materials and structural components due to cyclic (or fluctuating) stress. While applied stresses may be tensile, compressive or torsional, crack...
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Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Systems, also known as fiber reinforced linings, are composite materials commonly used to reinforce infrastructure, including steel piping, in the oil and gas and other process...
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Fired Heaters, often referred to as furnaces (direct fired heaters), are pieces of equipment often used in processing facilities to heat gases or liquids up to a desired temperature. Fired heaters in the petrochemical and refining industry are critical pieces of...
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Fitness for Service (FFS) is a best practice and standard used by the oil & gas and chemical process industries for in-service equipment to determine its fitness for continued service. FFS serves as a rational basis for defining flaw acceptance limits and allows engineers to...
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Fixed Equipment, sometimes also known as static equipment, is a term generally used to describe non-moving equipment in the oil and gas and process industries. Some examples include things like...
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Flanges are external ridges on beams or pipes that allow them to be attached to other objects. In the process industries, flanges are most often important in the context of pipelines and...
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Flare Systems (also known as gas flares) are an important piece of equipment for plants and refineries. Gas flares will burn up the flammable gases released by pressure relief valves when flammable gases are emitted by different types of plant equipment. This prevents these...
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Furnaces are critical pieces of equipment that can have a major impact on process unit safety, reliability, and economics. Therefore, Furnace Tube inspection and maintenance are essential activities for effective
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Glass-Lined Equipment is a corrosion resistant material used in varying processes of operation from production of pharmaceuticals to specialty chemicals and polymers. The strong glass-lined equipment prevents materials exposed to harsh chemicals, such as acids, alkalis, water,...
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Graphitization is a form of material degradation occurring when the microstructure of some carbon and low alloy steels breaks down after long exposure to elevated temperatures (825 - 1300 F),...
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Guided Wave Ultrasonics (GWUT) is a nondestructive examination technique that projects sound waves along pipe walls in order to detect corrosion or other damage. Guided wave...
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Heat Exchangers are pieces of process equipment built and designed for maximum efficiency of heat transfer between two different machines or mediums. In most industrial processes, the loss of heat is very...
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Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) Alkylation Units, often referred to as HF Alky units, are process units used in petroleum refining to convert isobutane and alkenes (primarily propylene or butylene) into...
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High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA) is an insidious condition that can occur in process equipment exposed to hydrogen at elevated temperatures (at least 400F or 204C), under dry conditions, when...
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Hydrocracking Units, also known as Hydrocrackers, are types of process equipment used in petroleum refining. Hydrocrackers use hydrogen and a catalyst to break down heavy crude oil molecules into various distillates and gasoline. It is also useful for converting...
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Hydroflouric (HF) Acid Corrosion is an acidic environment damage mechanism associated almost exclusively with HF Alkylation...
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Hydrogen blistering refers to the physical description of a metal with subsurface cavities that were created by accumulated hydrogen gas. Physically, these cavities appear as subsurface “bubbles” or “blisters.”...
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What Is Hydrogen Embrittlement?
Hydrogen Embrittlement is a form of hydrogen damage stemming from...
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Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) is a common form of wet H2S cracking caused by the blistering of a metal due to a high concentration of hydrogen. The blistering damage tends to form parallel to the...
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Hydrogen Stress Cracking is a form of Hydrogen Embrittlement that occurs when corrosion from acids like wet hydrogen sulfide and hydrofluoric acid cause atomic hydrogen to penetrate hardened...
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Hydrostatic (Hydro) Testing is a process where components such as piping systems, gas cylinders, boilers, and
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A Hydrotreater or hydro-desulfurization (HDS) unit is the process equipment used in petroleum refining to remove sulfur and nitrogen compounds from natural gas and other refined petroleum products like deisel, gasoline, and jet fuel. In petroleum refining, it is important to...
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In-line Inspection (ILI) involves the evaluation of pipes and pipelines using “smart pigs” (both tethered and non-tethered) that utilize non-destructive examination techniques...
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Injection Points are designated places where operators can inject chemicals into a process stream to prevent or mitigate corrosion or
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Inspection is the practice of examining the physical condition of materials, components, or entire pieces of equipment in order to determine if and for how long it will operate as intended. Inspection plays a vital role in any...
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An Inspection Data Management System (IDMS) is a software program utilized in the oil and gas and chemical processing industry to organize data related to a facility’s fixed equipment...
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Integrity Operating Windows (IOWs) are sets of limits used to determine the different variables that could affect the integrity and
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Preventing leaks is extremely important for operators in the oil and gas and chemical processing industries. Joint Integrity Management is the practice of designing, inspecting, and maintaining bolted joints to prevent the occurrence of leaks, which can lead to delayed...
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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are those metrics used by organizations to track and measure the performance or success of quantifiable values. KPIs can be used by individuals, businesses, facilities, and organizations to keep track of how close or far away they are to...
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Liquid Penetrant Examination, also referred to as penetrant testing (PT), liquid penetrant testing (LP), and dye penetrant testing (DP), is a nondestructive examination (NDE) method that utilizes fluorescent...
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Long Range Ultrasonic Testing (LRUT) is an advanced nondestructive examination technique that was developed for testing large volumes of material from a single test point. What differentiates this from more traditional methods of
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Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) is an advanced nondestructive testing (NDT) technique commonly used in the oil & gas and chemical processing industries to inspect for wall loss and sharp defects such as...
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Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT), also referred to as Magnetic Particle Inspection, is a nondestructive examination...
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Maintenance is the practice of protecting or restoring equipment in order to maintain function and integrity. As a critical component of an asset integrity...
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Management of Change (MOC) is a best practice that controls safety, health, and environmental risks and hazards as they...
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Mechanical Integrity (MI) can be defined as the management of critical process equipment to ensure it is designed and installed correctly, and that it operates and is maintained properly (i.e. no leaks and all elements are fit for service). A mechanical integrity program should...
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Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC) is an insidious condition caused by biological growth, typically bacteria, algae, or fungi, in water under low flow or stagnant conditions. One reason it is such a problem is that MIC can eat through a pipe or tube in a matter of weeks,...
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Nondestructive Testing (NDT) consists of a variety of non-invasive inspection techniques used to evaluate material properties, components, or entire process units. The techniques can also be utilized to detect, characterize, or measure the...
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Petrochemicals are the chemical products derived from petroleum and natural gas at different stages in the refining process. In some instances, a specific chemical included among the petrochemicals may also be obtained from other sources, such as coal or...
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Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) is an advanced nondestructive examination technique that utilizes a set of ultrasonic...
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Pipe Supports, or pipe hangers, are any structures used to support a pipe's deadweight, restrain a pipe's movement, or protect a pipe from structural interference. The primary purpose behind pipe hangers in an industrial setting is to provide support, anchor, and guide...
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In every processing facility, you have feedstock and product that need to get from point A to point B. Piping is the vehicle that moves these liquids and gasses through a refinery or chemical processing plant. They can be made of steel, cast iron, copper, plastic, or...
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Pitting Corrosion is a fairly localized form of corrosion which is characterized by small holes, known as pits, forming in materials, most often metal piping. While these pits may be small on the...
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Positive Material Identification (PMI) is a term that refers to the analysis and identification of materials through various nondestructive methods. PMI is able to determine the alloy composition of materials, and is a well-established technique that can either be performed in...
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Welding is an essential part of operating and maintaining assets in the petroleum (upstream, midstream, downstream) and chemical processing industries. While it has many useful applications, the welding process can...
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Pressure Relieving Devices (PRD) are components used in refineries, chemical plants, and other similar facilities to prevent pressure vessels and other equipment from overpressurization by relieving excess pressure when necessary. They can be used to release gas, steam, liquids,...
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Pressure Vessels are containers which are designed to hold liquids, vapors, or gases at high pressures, usually above 15 psig. Examples of common pressure vessels used in the petroleum refining and...
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Much of the equipment used in the refining and processing industries is known as Process Equipment. Most pieces of process equipment are designed to perform specific, singular tasks. Process equipment can be used for tasks as varied as storage, controlling flow, and...
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Process Hazards Analysis is a systematic method of identifying and evaluating the dangers involved with specific industrial processes in order to prevent or control potential hazards.[1,2,3] If properly conducted, it can be an effective tool for protecting...
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A Process Safety Incident typically involves an unexpected mechanical integrity failure in a pipeline system or processing facility, often including a fire, explosion, rupture, or hazardous chemical leak. These incidents can be caused by a number factors including
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Process Safety Management (PSM) is a regulation issued by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health...
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Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) is a nondestructive examination technique used for detecting flaws or corrosion in...
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Quality Assurance (QA) is a process that is used to control and improve the development of a product or service to ensure it will meet all specifications and requirements. QA involves improving the product development and manufacturing process, rather than looking at...
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Quality Control (QC) is the process of ensuring that the quality of a product or service has met certain predetermined standards. QC involves preventing defects in the finished products after they have been developed or manufactured.
While it is...
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Refractory is a heat resistant material used to line high temperature furnaces, reactors, and other processing units. It is more heat resistant than metals and is required for heating applications above 1000°F (538°C). Refractories are designed to resist chemical attack,...
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Reliability is a special attribute that describes the dependability of a component. This means that the component consistently performs a desired function under certain conditions for a certain period of time in order to meet business goals and...
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No definition provided.
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Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) is an analysis methodology and process that, as opposed to condition-based inspection, requires qualitative or quantitative assessment of the probability of failure (PoF) and the consequence of failure (CoF) associated with each equipment item, piping...
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Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a process that uses several problem solving methods to identify the origin of a problem. The analysis answers when, how, and why a problem occurred in the first place and implements an effective solution to ensure the...
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In the refining and chemical processing industries, Small Bore Piping (SBP) is generally process piping that is two inches or less in diameter. Small bore piping typically branches off of the main process piping and is often used as relief lines and drain piping.
The...
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Source Inspection is the process of providing quality surveillance of materials, equipment, and fabrications being supplied for use in facilities. It provides confidence to purchasers that the materials and equipment they are purchasing from their suppliers meet the minimum...
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Refineries, chemical facilities, and other large industrial facilities are comprised of countless individual assets that include fixed equipment (e.g., pressure vessels, piping),
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Sulfidation Corrosion (also known as sulfidic corrosion) is a result of naturally occurring sulfur compounds found in crude oil. In the absence of hydrogen, corrosion due to sulfur compounds in...
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Thickness Monitoring is the process of routinely measuring the material thickness of equipment such as piping, tubing, pressure vessels, or tanks. Thickness measurements are performed by using
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Shutdowns, Turnarounds, and Outages (STO) are commonly used terms, often interchangeably, to describe a planned or unplanned period of time in which a plant/facility, unit, or piece of equipment is out of service. In many process industries (e.g., refining, petrochemicals,...
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Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is a group of nondestructive examination (NDE) techniques that use short,...
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A valve is a mechanical device that regulates, directs, or controls the flow of a fluid (i.e., liquids, gases, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing one or more ports or passageways. Valves are critical to process safety and require the...
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Visual Inspection (VI), or visual testing (VT), is the oldest and most basic method of inspection. In its simplest form, visual inspection is the process of examining a component or piece of equipment using one’s...
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Weld Overlay (WOL), also known as cladding, hardfacing, weld cladding, or weld overlay cladding, is a process where one or more metals are joined together via welding to the surface of a base metal as a layer. This is normally done to improve the material by adding either a...
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Welding is the process of joining separate metals together using extreme heat. Welding can be used for a number of different purposes. For example, repair...
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Wet Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Damage is a common problem in the oil & gas and petrochemical/chemical manufacturing industries. It can occur when carbon-steel equipment becomes exposed to wet H2S service environments, and it can come in several different...
