A new set of best practices created specifically for the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical industries has been released today, giving guidance on the deployment, usage, inspection strategies and maintenance of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) monitoring systems.
The Recommended Practice document, which is referred to as CUI RP 101 Issue 1 and includes contributions from experienced users throughout the industry, including Aramco, Dow, INEOS and Chevron, contains best practices from asset selection to the use of maintenance management systems, inspection strategies and economic justification principles. It has been developed to enable Asset Owners to optimise inspection and repair strategies and enhance CUI management processes with continuous monitoring systems in the arsenal.
CUI costs the industry billions of dollars every year to mitigate the risk and repair the damage it causes to assets. Unmanaged CUI can result in leaks, leading to process safety incidents, severe harm to the environment, high unexpected repair costs and operational downtime.
Continuous monitoring systems offer remote detection of localised corrosion and moisture on an asset, while also providing corrosion rates. This empowers Asset Owners to make informed decisions on where and when to conduct repairs, leading to significant cost savings, reduced safety hazards, and minimised environmental risks across the industry.
The key principles outlined in the guidance include:
- The technology behind a CUI monitoring system.
- Asset selection criterion.
- The process to be used for technical justification, validation and qualification.
- Use of remote monitoring in different inspection strategies.
- Organisational recommendations.
Theo Knijff, independent consultant from KAI-Con, co-author of the guidance and Chair of the Recommended Practice Committee, said: “Unmanaged CUI poses a significant risk to the mechanical integrity of insulated carbon steel equipment and piping, and repairing the damage it causes has significant cost implications.
“By implementing a continuous CUI monitoring system, Asset Owners can take proactive steps to prevent CUI from becoming a substantial issue, minimising the risk of process safety incidents and costly repairs, while also optimising downtime.
“We have developed the new best practices as an essential toolkit for Asset Owners and believe it will play a pivotal role in transforming the way the industry manages its assets in the future, enhancing asset management strategies and ensuring the longevity of critical infrastructure to drive operational efficiency.”
Reference: http://www.corrosionradar.com/
