Digital Still Cameras Increase Effectiveness of Inspection Documentation
In-Service Inspection and Repair Codes and Standards
European Committee of User Inspectorates (ECUI)
Heat Exchanger Tubular Inspection
Interview with Scot Haines, Hess Corporation Fixed Equipment Reliability Coordinator
European Commission Launches Study on the Competitiveness of the European Pressure Equipment Sector
2008 Inspectioneering Journal Article Index
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Alberta Boiler Safety Association Issues Rev 5 Inspection & Servicing Requirements for Pressure EquipmentMay/June 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
The latest revision of this code (AB-506) is dated January 28, 2008. For many readers in the province of Alberta Canada these rules will impact you directly. Others may see effects or feel indirect effects as you jurisdictions may look to ABSA for direction or strongly consider their actions for establishing other jurisdictions' rules.
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March/April 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
Over the years many in the oil and gas and chemical industry inspectors, engineers and managers have asked, "What happens at API meetings?" With the important regulatory and business initiatives in place and developing it is a good time to answer that question.
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September/October 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
Washington, DC, August 20, 2008 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced today that it is proceeding with an investigation of the causes of a recent accident at the Goodyear rubber manufacturing facility in southeast Houston, in which one employee was killed and approximately seven others were injured, including several contract workers who were exposed to hazardous anhydrous ammonia.
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November/December 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy Charles L. Foster at Pacific Gas & Electric
A picture is worth a thousand words and thousands of dollars. There are many instances where in-service inspection reports are greatly enhanced by including photographic documentation. Using a conventional high quality 35 mm camera requires cumbersome amounts of equipment and consumes a lot of time. Developing film ASAP is an additional trip away from the inspection site and is an immediate necessity to insure picture quality before the area is no longer accessible. The inspector must then paste these acceptable photos onto report pages and make another trip to obtain color copies for the report.
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May/June 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
In the autumn of 2007 the European Commission started the "Study of the Market and Analysis of the Competitiveness of the European Pressure Equipment Sector (MAPES)"
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July/August 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
ECUI, the European Committee of User Inspectorates, was conceived during late 1992 as a result of an initiative by the Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association (EEMUA) in the UK. This initiative was developed by a nucleus of parties with in-house inspection interests in Netherlands, France and the UK, leading to an inaugural meeting in June 1993.
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September/October 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy Richard Green at Accurate Metallurgical Services
You're at 32,000 feet in an airplane when you look out the window. You observe the wing of the jet moving up and down with the turbulence, like a child bending a coat hanger over and over again until the wire fractures into two pieces. You wonder how many times has this wing flexed. Such work causes fatigue. Fatigue is the science of things that grow tired.
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July/August 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at Intertek, and W. David Wang at Shell Global Solutions
This paper covers most of the common (and some not so common) types of NDE methods for heat exchanger (HX) tubular in-service inspections. In addition to noting some of the various advantages and limitations with these methods, the paper covers heat exchanger tubular inspection planning, data analysis needs, a consequence rating method for scheduling inspection and bundle renewals, tubular cleaning methods and tubular inspection technician qualifications.
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March/April 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at IntertekOSHA’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) (1) is now well underway, with 17 of 81 targeted refineries having been reviewed so far (2). OSHA launched the NEP in 2007 after the deadly incident at BP Texas City. As of March this year, OSHA claims to have uncovered 146 violations so far and recommended nearly $1 million in fines.
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September/October 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
As a result of the temporary loss of gasoline production and pockets of surging demand, fuel prices rose in some areas across the country. Many have asked: "Why should the price of gasoline increase in my area when we are nowhere near the hurricane-affected areas?"
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March/April 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy Vincent Summa at TechCorr Inspection & EngineeringA unique technique for inspecting the floors of aboveground storage tank's (AST) emerged in the late 90's based on in-service robotic technology. The technology has come a long way since then, with new inspection and tank cleaning capabilities, greater operational efficiency and a much broader user base. The number of tanks inspected using in-service robotics has now exceeded the 700 mark.
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November/December 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at Intertek
After pressure equipment (aka fixed or static equipment) is designed, fabricated, and constructed to new construction codes and standards (C/S), it is placed in-service, at which time the API In-service Inspection (ISI) C/S and ASME Post-Construction C/S begin to govern. Within the API Standards Organization, the Subcommittee on Inspection (SCI) produces and maintains most of the ISI standards that govern in the refining and chemical process industry. Also within the API, the Corrosion and Materials Subcommittee (CMSC) produced many recommended practices that are referenced in the ISI C/S. Within the ASME, the Post Construction Committee (PCC) produces and maintains most of the post construction (means the same as ISI) standards that govern equipment after it has been placed in-service.
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July/August 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
The following is an interview with Scot Haines, (Corrosion Engineering Advisor). The IJ wishes to thank Scot and the Hess Corporation for taking the time to share with the "IJ" community.
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Partner ContentIf you are developing a mechanical integrity program, or you would like to optimize your existing mechanical integrity program, do you have qualified MI consultants to meet your regulatory needs? If you already have a sound, defensible MI inspection system in place, do you have qualified and experienced personnel maintaining your program?
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Learning from the Past: Not Letting the Pendulum Swing to the Opposite Extreme in Our Mechanical Integrity ProgramsSeptember/October 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
It has been over 3 years since the fatal blast at the BP Texas City Refinery on March 23, 2005, where 15 lives were lost, more than 170 people injured and survivor's lives changed forever. Historical memory can be an odd thing.
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Learning From the Past: Not Letting the Pendulum Swing to the Opposite Extreme in Our Mechanical Integrity ProgramsNovember/December 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
It is important to preserve as accurate an account as possible if we are to learn from the past. I believe it is important to protect ourselves from ourselves from rationalizing the past to justify movement toward "rationalization of abnormalities", as explained by Mr. Don Holmstrom from the US CSB, appearing in paragraph 21 of the copy of the presentation given by the US Chemical Safety Board to the BP Independent Panel, headed by James A. Baker III, former US Secretary of State. This presentation immediately follows this article. Each paragraph is numbered. These paragraphs will serve as references further in this editorial.
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September/October 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
Washington, DC, September 18, 2008 - A fire and series of explosions at the Barton Solvents Des Moines, Iowa, chemical distribution facility on October 29, 2007, was caused by a static electrical spark resulting from inadequate electrical bonding and grounding during the filling of a portable steel tank, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) determined in a final report today.
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January/February 2008 Inspectioneering JournalMost common radiographic practices for circumferential weld testing are single wall and double wall techniques with certain variations in technique details. Different Codes deal with the number of exposures required and applicability of the technique for different combinations of pipe diameter and wall thickness. However, there are certain geometries where these conventional radiography techniques are not applicable, mainly because the weld is superimposed on some structural material inside the tube or pipe.
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September/October 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
TechCorr USA, LLC (TechCorr) with corporate headquarters in Pasadena Texas has acquired J & V Electric located in Spring Texas.
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July/August 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
The final report calls on the American Petroleum Institute to develop improved practices for refinery freeze protection, fireproofing, isolation valves, and fire protection systems.
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November/December 2008 Inspectioneering Journal
High energy piping (HEP) systems, main stream lines and hot reheat lines (typically low chrome molybdenum steels), are susceptible to creep damage can lead to leaks, and in extreme cases, catastrophic rupture. To ensure safe and reliable operation as plants age, utilities periodically inspect critical components, conventional inspection methods for HEP systems are radiographic (RT), ultrasonic (UT), field metallography and replication, and magnetic particle (MT) testing.
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May/June 2008 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering JournalDo we know how to free ourselves from the current level of thinking to rise to a higher level? It will take this for us to overcome many of our current challenges in the arena of equipment reliability.
