An issue that arises frequently in the oil and gas industry is poor or missing documentation of pressure vessels. It is common in the industry to repurpose old equipment, bring equipment back into operation after a long period of time out of service, or rerate equipment due to debottlenecking of process units.
When documentation such as construction drawings and code forms are readily available, rerating or rating a pressure vessel is not difficult. API 510 and the NBIC provide guidance on the proper steps to be followed when rating or re-rating a pressure vessel, including:
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Revise calculations to show the pressure vessel is suitable for the proposed service;
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Perform rerating in accordance with the requirements of the vessel’s original construction code;
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Review inspection records to verify that the pressure vessel is suitable for the proposed service;
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Ensure the pressure vessel successfully passes a pressure test
In addition, the NBIC has provisions to allow the “R” Certificate Holder to apply a new nameplate or stamping for the rerated vessel.
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