API RP 580, Risk-Based Inspection, Third Edition, is a recommended practice developed and published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) that outlines and explains the basic elements for developing, implementing and maintaining a credible risk-based inspection (RBI) program. It is a generic document on RBI that can be used as a measuring stick by which the quality of any and all RBI methods and work processes could be evaluated to determine if they meet the level of quality prescribed in the RP.
The first edition of API RP 580 was published in May of 2002. The latest is the third edition, published on February 1, 2016. API RP 580 is now an ANSI/API Standard, which was balloted and approved using the ANSI consensus process for creating American National Standards. As such, it becomes a "recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice (RAGAGEP)", for use by all companies in the oil and chemical industry.
API RP 580 is supplemented by the latest edition of API RP 581, Risk-Based Inspection Technology, published on April 12, 2016.
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July/August 2018 Inspectioneering Journal
By Ibrahim Kodssi at Independent Consultant
Software implementation, including RBI, comes with a lot of ad-hoc challenges and pitfalls. There are numerous options for RBI software currently available, and they may differ by design, purpose, function, scope and capabilities. This article highlights several key integrity-related aspects to consider when selecting RBI software. |
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May/June 2018 Inspectioneering Journal
By Dheeraj Narang at Haldor Topsoe India Pvt Ltd.
This article intends to use a top-down approach of describing RBI methodology and how it fits in a facility management system. The main idea of this article is to provide a comprehensive picture of RBI methodology in terms of basics, technology trends, implementation guidance, and evaluating a potential RBI technology partner. |
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March/April 2018 Inspectioneering Journal
By Cesar Espinoza at PinnacleART, and Sudhakar Mahajanam at PinnacleART
As RBI continues to proliferate across industry, there are still those that are reluctant to transition from a time-based to risk-based inspection approach - especially in the upstream oil & gas business. These 4 benefits might help to lessen the resistance to RBI. |
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March/April 2018 Inspectioneering Journal
By Ibrahim Kodssi at Independent Consultant, and Houssam Sabry at ADNOC LNG
Implementing RBI for process piping can be a very tedious and lengthy exercise, especially for major process plants with thousands of feet of interconnected piping. This article shares the experience of ADNOC LNG following a structured RBI approach for piping groups. |
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July/August 2017 Inspectioneering Journal
By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
Establishing risk targets is an important aspect of any risk-based inspection (RBI) program and is a requirement of API RP 580. Metrics and consistency are important considerations for those using RBI to measure and manage risks as part of their decision-making process. |
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March/April 2017 Inspectioneering Journal
By Fernando Vicente at ABB, and Laza Krstin at ABB
Myths, challenges, and good practices related to process piping integrity management activities that help inspection and maintenance managers make the right decisions to develop cost-effective piping inspection plans without compromising the asset’s reliability or performance. |
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November/December 2016 Inspectioneering Journal
By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
Human factors, inspection effectiveness, and RBI all play an important role in running an effective asset management program. This article discusses how each is applicable to inspecting equipment in processing facilities. |
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November/December 2016 Inspectioneering Journal
By Lynne Kaley at Trinity Bridge LLC / Trinity Bridge Digital
This paper provides the background for the technology behind the Third Edition thinning model as well as step-by-step worked examples demonstrating the methodology for thinning in this new edition of API RP 581. |
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Blog
December 29, 2016 By John Reynolds at Intertek
The Fall API Standards Meeting was incredibly productive and addressed, among other issues, the API Inspection Summit, balloting for the 11th edition of API 510, and improvements to the inspection section of each damage mechanism in API RP 571. |
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Blog
September 12, 2016 By Lynne Kaley at Trinity Bridge LLC / Trinity Bridge Digital
Experienced material specialists are in short supply and high demand these days. So if you are lucky enough to have one at your disposal, how can you squeeze the most out of that opportunity? |
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Blog
July 15, 2016 By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
Anyone who knows me knows that Risk Based Inspection (RBI) and Risk Management are true passions of mine. I have dedicated much of my career to studying them, understanding their intricacies, and witnessing the benefits of their successful implementation. This article briefly discusses the history of RBI and provides a short, yet persuasive justification for investing in establishing an effective RBI program. |
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May/June 2016 Inspectioneering Journal
By John Reynolds at Intertek
This brief article contains updates and highlights related to the Subcommittee on Inspection (SCI) at the 2016 API Spring Refining Equipment and Standards Meeting. |
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Online Article
Updated editions of both API 570 and API RP 580 were recently released by the American Petroleum Institute. |
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Blog
January 4, 2016 By John Reynolds at Intertek
This article provides a summary of the Subcommittee on Inspection (SCI) discussions that occurred at the Fall 2015 API Refining Standards Meeting, including the Inspection Summit Planning Committee and the API ICP Task Group. |
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July/August 2015 Inspectioneering Journal
By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
Asset managers need to know when repairs and replacement are required for many reasons, including safe operation, accurate budgeting, replacement planning, and on-going reliability. When predicting design life based on a simple, linear corrosion rate versus remaining thickness, metallurgical degradation, or crack propagation rates are often not accurate or realistic. Even if the models are good, things change. |
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Blog
March 30, 2015 By John Reynolds at Intertek
The 2015 API Spring Refining and Equipment Standards Meeting will be held at the Seattle Sheraton during the week of April 13-16, with plenty of interesting meetings for Inspectioneers. You do not need... |
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November/December 2014 Inspectioneering Journal
By Alphonse W. Hegger Jr., P.E. at Stress Engineering Services
Today, more than ever, refinery operators are focused on maintaining safe operations for their employees and extending the life cycle of valuable operating equipment to optimize efficiencies and avoid expensive unforeseen shutdowns. When process unit corrosion assessments, RBI methodologies, and IOWs are properly integrated into refining operations, the result is improved safety and longer run times. |
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Blog
November 17, 2014 By John Reynolds at Intertek
One of the most significant advancements to come along in the fixed equipment mechanical integrity (FEMI) business in the past two decades is the application of risk-based inspection (RBI) for inspection prioritization, planning, and scheduling. The most important standard for RBI in the petroleum and petrochemical industry is API RP 580. |
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May/June 2014 Inspectioneering Journal
By Luciano Narcisi at GIE
As an RBI consultant, I frequently get involved in discussions spawned from a misunderstanding of the relation between Risk Based Inspection (RBI) approaches and Fitness for Service (FFS) assessments. Questions like: If thickness is below the minimum required by design, why does the risk stay so low? |
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Blog
April 21, 2014 By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
A paper was presented at the 68th Conference of the Italian Thermal Machines Engineering Association entitled Updated Failure Rates and Risk Management in the Process Industries. It was presented in October 2013 by INAIL, an Italian insurance association. The presentation included a thorough analysis of generic failure frequencies used in various American, European, and other sources dating back to 1970. |
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Partner Content
Industrial Rope Access is a proven method of achieving a safe work position at elevated heights or areas that are difficult to access. When combined with advanced NDE technologies, rope access technicians can substantially reduce the cost of inspections and maintenance activities by virtually eliminating the need for fixed scaffolding. |
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Blog
November 18, 2013 By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
Discussions to allow the certification of three existing API recommended practices (RPs) without prior certification to API 510, 570, or 653 were held at recent API Spring and Fall Refining and Equipment Standards Meetings. |
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Blog
August 12, 2013 By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
In the next few blog posts, we will be going in depth on scalable accuracy. This post walks through the thinking needed prior to initiating. Then we will discuss two technologies immediately available to plant operators for fixed equipment life-cycle maintenance: Risk Based Inspection (RBI) and Fitness for Service (FFS). |
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Blog
August 5, 2013 By Marc McConnell, P.E. at Pro-Surve Technical Services
At PinnacleAIS, we often get requests for a Senior API Inspector. But what does that mean exactly? What qualifications are required? Is there a test or a certification that provides the end user with assurance they are getting a higher caliber inspector or inspection service? Often there are different ideas of what comprises a "Senior" Inspector. |
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Blog
June 3, 2013 By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
This is the third of four blogs in a series about Risk Based Inspection (RBI). You can read the previous blogs on a history and reasons for RBI and on starting to define risk. This post deals with the second half of the equation used to define risk... |
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Blog
May 20, 2013 By Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
Anyone who knows me knows that Risk Based Inspection (RBI), and Risk Management, are a passion of mine, so my next few posts will feature these topics. These are not all-inclusive, but Inspectioneering.com has dozens of articles and you can join our LinkedIn Group for more. |
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November/December 2012 Inspectioneering Journal
By Ryan Corn at Marathon Petroleum Company LP, and Matthew K. Caserta, PE at BASF
As refiners continue operating aging infrastructure, safe operation and equipment availability continue to be key components of a sustainable operation. When considering optimizing inspection projects, more and more refiners are making Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) an integral part of their plan processes. When applied properly, RBI can focus inspection efforts using risk as a basis for prioritizing and managing an in-service inspection program. |
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January/February 2009 Inspectioneering Journal
By Lynne Kaley at Trinity Bridge LLC / Trinity Bridge Digital
This article provides a unique opportunity to guide the reader through API RBI quantitative calculations per API RP 581, Second Edition, September 2008, using real data. The author guides you step by step from input data to final answers including, probability of failure, consequence of failure, financial and risk return and metrics usage, and inspection planning. |
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September/October 2007 Inspectioneering Journal
By John Reynolds at Intertek
In May of this year, a workshop was presented at the annual NPRA Reliability and Maintenance Conference at the George R. Brown CC in Houston. This article is a reader’s digest summary of what was presented at that workshop by the four panelists. |
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September/October 2002 Inspectioneering Journal
By John Reynolds at Intertek
In May 2002, after 6 years of preparation, the API published the first edition of API 580 Risk-based Inspection. The document is now an ANSI/API Standard, which was balloted and approved using the ANSI consensus process for creating American National Standards. As such it becomes a "recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice", for use by all companies in the oil and chemical industry. |
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March/April 2002 Inspectioneering Journal
The American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice for Risk Based Inspection, RP 580, is expected to be available for purchase in early May 2002. |
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March/April 1997 Inspectioneering Journal
The API Commitment on Refinery Equipment (CRE) has chartered a task group to develop an API recommended practice (RP 580), which will detail all the vital aspects of Risk-Based Inspection. This standard will not detail or propose any one specific RBI procedure, but will detail all the important aspects, issues and concerns that a valid RBI procedure could and/or should consider. |
Quest Integrity Group is a global leader in the development and delivery of asset integrity management and asset reliability solutions for our clients in the refining and chemical, pipeline, syngas and power industries. Our services include furnace tube inspection for the refining and chemical industries, in-line inspection for the pipeline industry, steam reformer tube inspection for the syngas industry, as well as fitness-for-service assessment, remaining life assessment, structural integrity, failure analysis and materials consulting for various industries including the power industry. We specialize in condition assessment for fired heater coils, unpiggable pipelines, steam reformer tubes, storage tanks, gas turbines and other assets.
Quest Integrity Group is a global leader in the development and delivery of asset integrity management and asset reliability solutions for our clients in the refining and chemical, pipeline, syngas and power industries. Our services include furnace tube inspection for the refining and chemical industries, in-line inspection for the pipeline industry, steam reformer tube inspection for the syngas industry, as well as fitness-for-service assessment, remaining life assessment, structural integrity, failure analysis and materials consulting for various industries including the power industry. We specialize in condition assessment for fired heater coils, unpiggable pipelines, steam reformer tubes, storage tanks, gas turbines and other assets.
PK Technology is a full-service inspection contractor, as well as, an in-house software development company specializing in the Oil and Gas industry. PK Technology is the creator of intelliSPEC, the worlds first Digital Data Management System (DDMS) which is a robust and intelligent solution designed to digitize, analyze and realize all vital data.
PK Technology is a full-service inspection contractor, as well as, an in-house software development company specializing in the Oil and Gas industry. PK Technology is the creator of intelliSPEC, the worlds first Digital Data Management System (DDMS) which is a robust and intelligent solution designed to digitize, analyze and realize all vital data.
Pinnacle Advanced Reliability Technologies (PinnacleART) is a leader in building, implementing and maintaining comprehensive reliability programs for facilities in the oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, wastewater and electric power industries, to name a few. Our team consists of talented experts and engineers, who offer the highest degree of service and uncompromised reliability for every one of our projects. PinnacleART’s specialists are dedicated to delivering optimal outcomes for our clients, which results in reducing risk, ensuring compliance, optimizing costs and improving safety.
Pinnacle Advanced Reliability Technologies (PinnacleART) is a leader in building, implementing and maintaining comprehensive reliability programs for facilities in the oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, wastewater and electric power industries, to name a few. Our team consists of talented experts and engineers, who offer the highest degree of service and uncompromised reliability for every one of our projects. PinnacleART’s specialists are dedicated to delivering optimal outcomes for our clients, which results in reducing risk, ensuring compliance, optimizing costs and improving safety.
Sentinel Integrity Solutions is a full service inspection company, providing a full suite of inspection support to service the Petroleum (upstream, midstream and downstream operations), Chemical, Power and Pipeline Industries. We are respected by our clients for the unsurpassed reliability, dedication and professionalism exhibited by our personnel and the customer service and responsiveness exhibited by our Management Team.
Sentinel Integrity Solutions is a full service inspection company, providing a full suite of inspection support to service the Petroleum (upstream, midstream and downstream operations), Chemical, Power and Pipeline Industries. We are respected by our clients for the unsurpassed reliability, dedication and professionalism exhibited by our personnel and the customer service and responsiveness exhibited by our Management Team.
Versa Integrity Group, Inc. is a full service inspection, maintenance, and engineering company serving the oil refining, chemical processing, and offshore industries. Versa possesses over 70 years of NDE inspection, engineering and rope access experience and provides its customers access to a total of more than 400 engineers, API inspectors, rope access climbers and NDE technicians. Like many companies, Versa has the tools to get the job done; what separates Versa from the rest of the pack is their commitment to professionalism, integrity, and above all else, customer service.
Versa Integrity Group, Inc. is a full service inspection, maintenance, and engineering company serving the oil refining, chemical processing, and offshore industries. Versa possesses over 70 years of NDE inspection, engineering and rope access experience and provides its customers access to a total of more than 400 engineers, API inspectors, rope access climbers and NDE technicians. Like many companies, Versa has the tools to get the job done; what separates Versa from the rest of the pack is their commitment to professionalism, integrity, and above all else, customer service.
Greg Alvarado explains the inspection effectiveness tables found in API RP 581, the importance of them, and how they should be used.
Greg Alvarado discusses the concept of "risk in square feet per year", a powerful metric found in the API RP 581 Risk Based Inspection methodology. Understanding metrics such as this one will allow you to begin trending your risks, identifying best practices, and feel comfortable with the decisions you are making in your facility or corporation.
Greg Alvarado explains the concept of RBI risk thresholds: "How much confidence do I need to have in what I believe to be the true damage state of the equipment?"
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News
PRNewswire, September 6, 2016
MTech, Trinity Bridge Digital's new software app, uses patent-pending technology to put industry codes, calculations and expert advice into a smart tool for IOS and Android devices, enabling users to evaluate potential causes of unexpected damage and streamline communications with materials specialists. |
