Potholes on the Road to IOW Implementation

Purpose/Scope

The purpose of this article is to describe some of the pitfalls that operating sites have encountered while trying to implement a program of Integrity Operating Windows (IOWs) in accordance with the guidance in API RP 584, plus how to overcome those pitfalls. The scope of this article covers three phases of a successful IOW program including: 

1. Creation Phase: in this phase, some sites have encountered several pitfalls as IOWs are being established for operating parameters that need to have limits placed upon them to avoid integrity and reliability issues.
2. Implementation Phase: in this phase, some sites have encountered several pitfalls with their IOW program in the operating units after the IOWs have been created and agreed upon while they are being implemented in the field.
3. Management Phase: some sites have struggled with multiple pitfalls during the management and maintenance phase of their IOW program after IOWs have been implemented.

Introduction

For those not yet fully familiar with the contents of API RP 584 that covers the creation, implementation, management and maintenance phases of Integrity Operating Windows, I encourage you to read the document, as this article assumes the reader has a basic knowledge of the IOW work process outlined in API RP 584. 

IOW Program Pyramid