Hazard and Operability Study for the Oil and Gas Industry (0109)

OIL & GAS Hazard and Operability Study (HazOP) Natural Gas Production and Refining Company

Project Summary

Hazard and Operability Study (HazOP) Natural Gas Production & Refining Company, UK

Key Project Elements  Review of the project documentation and Piping and Instrumentation Drawings (P&ID’s).  Identification and agreement of the nodes to be studied with the client.  Establishment of a timetable for the study.  Act as Chairperson for the Hazard and Operability study.  Preparation of the HazOp report in conjunction with the client’s study secretary.

CRA is providing a range of consultancy services to a gas production and refining company in the UK, including chairing Hazard and Operability (HazOp) studies. The documented HazOp provides the Duty Holder with a formal, systematic and rigorous method of identifying potential process and operability deviations, and recommends the means of either eliminating or preventing their occurrence or minimising the consequence should the deviation occur.

HazOp studies are a formal qualitative process which follows a planned approach considering both process parameters and a system of guidewords to examine a project, existing plant or modification for inadequacies in design against all eventualities, and identify potential hazards and operating difficulties.

As part of their ongoing services, CRA has provided both HazOp Chairperson and Secretary for offshore gas production installations and onshore gas terminals, and has conducted HazOps for: 

Proposed new projects, when an approved for design P&ID is available

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Modifications to existing process facilities, when a firm P&ID is available showing the proposed modifications.

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Existing process facilities, utilizing an as built P&ID

As HazOp Chairperson, CRA are responsible for coordinating HazOp operations. This includes reviewing the relevant P&ID’s and identifying and agreeing the subdivision of the process plant into ‘nodes’ (plant sections with a specific ‘design intent’, for which operating conditions are well defined) to be studied and a timetable for the study with the HazOp sponsor. The role of the Chairperson is to present an overview of the HazOp methodology to the team and lead the HazOp to ensure it stays on schedule and that the team does not try to redesign or solve a problem; ensuring that relevant information contained in the approved HazOp list of Guidewords are covered and recording all queries and problems before assigning to a responsible person to progress the action to completion.

Documentation used during a HazOp is prepared in advance, to reduce the likelihood of interruptions to the session. Typical documentation includes:       

Project objectives Criticality of the plant and individual sub elements Process flow scheme/P&ID’s Cause and Effect tables Detailed drawings of vessels Preliminary facility layout and elevations Operating / maintenance philosophy

Upon completion of the HazOp study a report is prepared. This contains an overview of the project / operation; a comprehensive record of the process hazards and operating difficulties identified and the remedial actions recommended; individual action sheets assigned to responsible persons; and HazOp Action Tracking to enable the HazOp sponsor to track the remedial actions to completion.

Ref: PS0109