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Risk Based Inspection

Risk-based inspection (RBI) is the process of developing an inspection plan based on knowledge of the risk of failure of equipment.

TWI offers RBI solutions to Members as part of its risk and reliability engineering services. Our exhaustive knowledge of materials degradation processes, and demonstrable track record in this area, mean Member companies can rely on us to develop the right plan for each scenario.

Using an established methodology and TWI’s bespoke RiskWISE® software, we can develop maintenance or replacement solutions, giving guidance on managing your assets in the most effective manner, from individual component studies through to turnkey, plant-wide projects – tailored to your needs. Our asset integrity management and plant life assessment services work together to maximise the reliability and efficiency of a structure or component.

TWI has recently developed quantitative data trending as a means of mitigating risk in equipment where reliable data is scarce or unavailable. This, coupled with RiskWISE 5 (API 581 compliant) allows assessments to be conducted with greater speed and accuracy than ever before.

Conducting an RBI

Risk-based inspection can be done in a qualitative, semi-quantitative or quantitative manner, using guidance from standards applicable to different situations such as API 581 for oil and gas and petro-chemical scenarios, and DNV-RP F116 for subsea pipeline. Other assets for which RBIs are valuable are storage tanks, onshore pipelines and structures, and power generation components such as steam turbines, gas turbines, heat recovery steam generators and balance-of-plant systems.

The essential element in all these situations is a risk analysis: the combination of an assessment of the likelihood of failure due to damage, deterioration or degradation, and the consequences of any such failure. The information gained from this process is used to identify the type and rate of damage that could potentially occur and the equipment or locations where failure would give rise to danger of different degrees.

Benefits

Risk-based inspection is a means of using inspection resources more cost-effectively and with confidence. The method ensures that you are complying with current safety regulations and also enables you to make inspection decisions informed by greater information and expertise, thereby saving time and money.

Plant operators face an increasingly complex challenge when managing the integrity of assets: to achieve operational excellence and maximum asset performance while minimising costs and maintaining the highest safety and environmental standards.

Risk-based inspection principles offer an established methodology for efficient plant maintenance and, with our expertise and specialised software, we can work with you to develop cost-effective management solutions.

RiskWISE integrity management software

RiskWISE is a bespoke, code-compliant software package developed by TWI to be capable of processing the large amount of data involved in conducting an RBI. Built on our collective expertise in the power, petrochemical and oil and gas industries, RiskWISE can be customised for each Member company’s individual needs and effectively optimises plant inspection and maintenance.

Risk and reliability services

More information on our risk and reliability services can be found on our asset integrity managementpipeline integrity management and fitness for service pages. Throughout our work we aim to help our Members by providing services that:

  • Maximise plant life and availability
  • Optimise inspection, repair and maintenance spend
  • Implement risk-based inspection principles
  • Meet safety, environmental and reliability requirements
  • Train equipment owners and operators to be more informed and competent engineers
  • Provide software tools for equipment owners and operators (standard and customised packages)
  • Provide rapid on- and off-site engineering consultancy for plant irregularities
  • Undertake design reviews
  • Assess in-service damage

For more information about TWI's asset reliability services, please email contactus@twi.co.uk.

For more information please email:


contactus@twi.co.uk