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Asset management Steps towards a ‘living QRA’ Lighting Industrial smart lighting strategies

Non-electrical ignition Guide to storing, handling & installing flameproof motors

Storage Case study: Fire protection at a new oil products storage facility

Artificial intelligence How AI impacts the future of oil & gas safety

December 2019

the journal for hazardous area environments

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INAT AWARD ION 14/1 S DEAD 2/19 LINE

The Hazardex 2020 Conference and Exhibition in Harrogate, UK, on 26 & 27 February 2020, will feature a hazardous area and process safety awards programme to highlight examples of excellence across the sector.

STILL TIME TO ENTER - AWARD NOMINATIONS DEADLINE 14/12/19 ACT NOW Contribution to Safety A product, system or service which has made a significant contribution to safety in hazardous area environments Contribution to the Environment A product, system or service which has made a significant contribution to energy efficiency or environmental improvement in the process and high hazard industries Technical Innovation An innovative product or system for use in hazardous area environments Best User Application An application story highlighting the benefits of a product, system or service for use in hazardous areas

PPTex Innovation The best innovation in Personnel Protection Technologies (PPT) equipment incorporating electronic and technological systems that the user can wear, hold or use to improve safety within the process and high hazard industries.

Best Customer Service A company or corporate division that has provided excellent customer service in the sector over the last two years An additional prize, the Delegate Award, will be voted on and awarded by Conference and Exhibition attendees on the night

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contents december 2019 On November 2, the UK government imposed an indefinite suspension on fracking operations due to fears about earthquakes.

The government announced the suspension after a report by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said it was impossible to predict the probability or size of tremors caused by shale gas extraction.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: “After reviewing the OGA’s report into recent seismic activity at Preston New Road, it is clear that we cannot rule out future unacceptable impacts on the local community. For this reason, I have concluded that we should put a moratorium on fracking in England with immediate effect.”

In a statement, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said: “Exploratory work to determine whether shale could be a new domestic energy source, delivering benefits for our economy and energy security, has now been paused - unless and until further evidence

14 20

is provided that it can be carried out safely here.”

Fracking activity was halted in the UK on August 26 when Cuadrilla Resources, the only company licensed to carry out the process, stopped operations at its Preston New Road site in Lancashire after seismic activity measuring at 2.9 on the Richter scale occurred during operations. The shutdown came less than a week after Cuadrilla began fracking a second well on the site after abandoning the first well as a result of multiple shutdowns due to tremors.

A new generation of ‘living’ quantitative risk assessments has been developed that can be updated throughout the lifecycle of an installation

14 26

The suspension is a step short of an outright ban. Other parties have suggested this suspension is an attempt to curry favour with voters prior to the UK general election on December 12, but whatever the reason, this is another nail in the coffin of Conservative party hopes to emulate the US shale bonanza in the UK. …Alistair Hookway, Associate Editor, Hazardex

in this issue

The correct installation and operation of flameproof motors is vital to maximise the working life of any machinery onshore, in hazardous environments

4 News Extra

• Fatal munitions blast caused by faulty product, operator error and electrostatic build-up • CSB says corroded pipe led to Philadelphia refinery fire • CompEx celebrates 25 years at the Palace of Westminster • South Sudan oil pipeline leak affects wide area • US says August Russian radiation release took place during missile recovery • Venezuela denies responsibility for oil spills along Brazil’s coastline • Chevron fined $2.7m for uncontrolled oil spills in California • Researchers say gravity energy storage could be significantly cheaper than lithium-ion batteries • Chief Inspector recognises improvements across UK nuclear sector but says more must be done • Nuclear generation in UK drops significantly in 2019 while French output remains similar to 2018

30

19 Standards: IECEx annual meeting 2019

The ability to implement smart lighting and sophisticated controls is one of the most compelling arguments for converting to LED lighting

20 Steps towards a ‘living QRA’ 24 Case study: Fire protection at an oil products storage facility

32

25 The advantages of quick connectors for multi-channel fibre in explosive atmospheres 26 The step-by-step guide to storing, handling and installing flameproof motors 30 Industrial smart lighting strategies 32 How AI impacts the future of oil and gas safety

Artificial intelligence is transforming the role of the safety manager and helping to predict likely events to improve safety

30 36Asset management the journal for hazardous area environments

hazardexonthenet.net

Steps towards a ‘living QRA’

40Lighting Industrial smart lighting strategies

Non-electrical ignition Guide to storing, handling & installing flameproof motors

Storage Case study: Fire protection at a new oil products storage facility

Artificial intelligence How AI impacts the future of oil & gas safety

December 2019

30 Events Hazardex is a controlled circulation journal published monthly.

Completed print or online registration forms will be considered for free supply of printed issues, web site access and online services. Annual subscription for non-qualifying readers is: UK £147; EU £215.25; Airmail £315 and single copy price is £23.10 plus P&P. Editor Alan Franck alan.franck@imlgroup.co.uk

Group Publisher Russell Goater russell.goater@imlgroup.co.uk

Associate Editor Alistair Hookway alistair.hookway@imlgroup.co.uk

Circulation subscriptions@imlgroup.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)1732 359990

Sales Executive Kathryn Startin kathryn.startin@imlgroup.co.uk

Design Graham Rich Design www.grahamrichdesign.co.uk

Hazardex content is the property of the publishers or relevant content providers. The publishers and sponsors of this magazine are not responsible for the results of any actions or omissions taken on the basis of information in this publication. In particular, no liability can be accepted in respect of any claim based on or in relation to material provided for inclusion.

IML Group Blair House, High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BQ, UK Tel: +44 1732 359990 Email: events@imlgroup.co.uk ISSN 1476-7376

Production and Events Holly Reed holly.reed@imlgroup.co.uk

Register for weekly email newsletter & up-to-the-minute news at www.hazardexonthenet.net

4

News Extra

Shutterstock

Fatal South African munitions plant explosion caused by faulty product, operator error and electrostatic build-up

A

year after an explosion killed eight employees at a munitions factory near Cape Town, an internal investigation has found that due process was not

The investigation team concluded that the cause was a combination of human error when excess graphite was added to the material, and a highly complex electrostatic electricity risk

place ensured the pressure wave was directed upwards with no effect on other structures.

followed in ensuring the safety of materials.

which was very unlikely to have been foreseen by the individuals involved.

this was part of RDM safety planning. Explosive circles are defined and calculated allowing for buildings to be spaced so that, if an incident

A report in the Cape Argus described the findings of the probe into the accident on September 3 last year at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) factory.

The investigation established that the most likely cause of the explosion was a build-up of electrostatic electricity in a suspended graphite cloud due to the triboelectric effect (a type of

does occur, it cannot affect other buildings or people.

The investigation was conducted by an experienced multidisciplinary internal team with

contact electrification in which certain materials become electrically charged) and a subsequent discharge which ignited airborne propellant in

operations in the building. RDM adheres to national and international standards which make provision for the circle to include a

external assistance.

the blending drum.

The building where the incident occurred was

This particular type of electrostatic electricity risk

maximum possible affected area. All circles are on the RDM premises, so any possible effect is limited to the perimeter of the

used for blending large volumes of propellant from smaller sub-lots. It had been carrying out these operations without any incident since the 1980s.

was a previously unidentified and unforeseen hazard across the industry, investigators said.

site. Surrounding communities cannot be affected by any such incidents.

In the aftermath of the explosion three forensic

As far as the cost of rebuilding and re-equipping

investigations were launched – one by RDM itself, with external support – and the others by

was concerned, Schulze said he did not expect any significant impact, adding that operations

the SA Police Service and the Department of Labour.

were continuing at the Somerset West site and other RDM production facilities.

State prosecutors will decide if the company or its managers should face charges over the deadly explosion when all three investigation reports are in.

Rheinmetall Denel Munition is a munitions manufacturer jointly owned by Germany’s Rheinmetall Waffe Munition, a subsidiary of the larger Rheinmetall weapons manufacturer, and South Africa’s state-owned arms maker Denel.

According to the company, all members of the team were fully trained, and the team leader and supervisor both had extensive experience with the material and the operations being executed at the time of the incident.

The investigation established during the mandatory routine testing of sub-lots in the course of the manufacturing process that one sub-lot did not meet the required quality standards.

RDM chief executive Norbert Schulze said that

The size of the circle is determined by

It was also revealed that due process was not followed and, instead, an attempt to rework the material was made by adding extra graphite to

According to defenceweb.co.za, the building where the explosion happened is one of about 400 on the RDM Somerset West site. Each is designed in such a way that if there is an incident, such as an explosion or fire, it will not affect surroundings structures. Blast walls

RDM, which has its headquarters in Munich, manufactures and supplies selected munitions and explosive-related products for armed and police forces in South Africa, as well as countries in Asia, the Middle East and South

the propellant.

around the building where the explosion took

America.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

News Extra

Shutterstock

5

The location of piracy incidents is concentrated in a small number of hotspots, and Nigeria alone accounted for about 25% of all attacks. The waters in and adjacent to Nigeria - including attacks off Togo, Benin and Cameroon accounted for the overwhelming majority of kidnappings worldwide. Nigeria-based pirate gangs have been implicated in multiple recent kidnapping incidents in the greater Gulf of Guinea, both within the waters of neighbouring countries and on the high seas.

“All waters in / off Nigeria remain risky.

Two crew kidnapping incidents highlight maritime piracy problems off West Africa P

irates attacked a Greek oil tanker off the coast of Togo on November

4 and fled after taking four crew members as hostages, the West African nation’s navy said, two days after a similar attack in the waters of neighbouring Benin.

Of the missing crew members, two are Filipinos, one is Greek and one is Georgian, the navy said in a statement. One security guard was also shot and wounded in the attack, it said.

rise substantially, especially kidnapping of crews for ransom. Vessels are advised to take additional measures in these high-risk waters.”

Nigeria forbids the presence of embarked private maritime security contractors in its waters. This effectively prohibits Gulf of Guinea vessel operators from using onboard armed guards, which have proven successful in deterring pirates in the

Norwegian-flagged boat off the coast of Benin on November 2.

high-risk area off Somalia. Instead, Nigeria permits private contractors to provide forhire Security Escort Vessel (SEV) services

Pirates boarded the Bonita at an anchorage about 13 km off the Port of Cotonou.

using civilian boats and armed Nigerian Navy active duty servicemembers.

According to one well-regarded security

They abducted the master and eight other crewmembers, according to authorities in Benin.

The Bonita, her remaining crewmembers and her cargo of gypsum docked safely in Cotonou later the same day.

Pirate attacks for the first three quarters

The vessel, Elka Aristotle, was around 18 kilometres off the port of Lome when the incident occurred.

of the year have fallen to a five-year low, according to the latest report from the ICC IMB Piracy Reporting Centre.

According to Reuters, the vessel’s manager,

In its Q3 report, the IMB found that there

European Product Carriers Ltd, confirmed the early morning attack, without providing further details. Greece’s shipping ministry said it was “closely monitoring the issue”.

were 119 pirate attacks between January and September, the lowest number recorded since at least 2015. The incidence rate of kidnapping has risen, however: 70 seafarers have been kidnapped so far this year, more than the number for the same period in any of the last five years.

This attack follows the abduction by pirates of nine Filipino crew members from a

Vessels are advised to be vigilant, as many incidents may have gone unreported,” IMB wrote in its report. “Incidents continue to

services firm quoted by Maritime Executive, this system has historically been challenged by “extremely high costs and issues of poor performance and reliability.”

The incidence rate of piracy in southeast Asia remains lower. The IMB cautioned that while the frequency of attacks has declined off Sabah, Malaysia, after local authorities increased patrols, the threat still exists, and two kidnappings have occured in the region so far this year.

In a sign of the success of global antipiracy efforts off the Horn of Africa, no pirate attacks have been reported off Somalia this year. Still, IMB recommends that masters maintain vigilance and maintain BMP security standards when transiting the region.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

6

News Extra

Still from CSB animation of PES explosion

Chemical Safety Board says corroded pipe led to Philadelphia refinery fire A

n old piece of metal pipe that had not been tested for corrosion

While CSB officials said they were unaware of health complaints tied to the leaked

The final report is expected early in 2020, and CSB Interim Director

was the cause of the June fire and explosions at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery, the US Chemical

chemical, Reuters spoke to residents of the South Philadelphia neighbourhood surrounding the refinery in the days after

Kristen Kulinowski said at the news conference she expects it will contain recommendations addressing 100%

Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said on October 16.

the fire who complained of burning eyes, itchy skin and other symptoms linked to HF exposure.

inspections of facilities as well as whether hydrofluoric acid should continue to be used in the refining process.

HF has come under criticism by the CSB and refinery worker unions for its use in US

Other local and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms

refineries in populated areas.

and Explosives as well as the Philadelphia fire department, are also investigating the incident.

The pipe fitting failed on June 21, releasing propane containing the highly toxic chemical hydrofluoric acid (HF) that escaped into the atmosphere, the CSB said in the first update on its investigation.

The ruptured pipe fitting, an elbow, was Three separate explosions then hurled pieces of the refinery weighing an estimated 17 tonnes around the site, and some across the nearby Schuylkill River and onto highways, causing a blaze that was visible for miles and destroying an alkylation unit that uses HF to produce components of high-octane gasoline.

found to have a metal composition that included high levels of copper and nickel, failing to meet industry standards, the agency said. After the blast, the thinnest portion of the pipe fitting was found to be half the thickness of a credit card, it added.

No one was killed, and only five minor injuries were reported. However, Philadelphia Energy Solutions filed for bankruptcy a month later and shut down the 335,000 barrel-per day refinery, the largest on the

measured for thickness to detect corrosion, that piece had not, the CSB said. The failed pipe, along with another nearby elbow pipe, had been stamped with letters indicating they likely were part of an installation from

US East Coast.

about 1973.

A process operator at the plant quickly activated a fail-safe that dumped a large quantity of HF into a protected vessel so more was not released, said CSB, a nonregulatory federal agency.

Pipe degraded by corrosion caused a 2012 explosion at Chevron Corp’s Richmond, California, refinery and a 2009 blast at the Silver Eagle refinery in Woods Cross, Utah, according to the CSB.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

While the broader pipe system in the destroyed unit had been periodically

“Once these investigations are complete, parties found responsible must be held accountable and appropriate actions must be taken to address this situation and the impact it has had on the workers and our region,” US Representative Mary Gay Scanlon said in a statement.

Scanlon has criticised PES for how the company handled the closure of its refinery. “PES cannot simply get up and walk away from these workers and this community,” she said.

PES executives were paid $4.5 million in retention bonuses days after the fire while some 1,100 refinery workers were laid off without health benefits or severance pay after the company filed for bankruptcy protection in July.

News Extra

7

Outstanding questions include the cost of maintaining water treatment systems so that

Shutterstock

rain and melted snow contaminated on-site do not stream into the nearby Schuylkill River, and prospective buyers must also contemplate the costs and responsibility for cleaning up PES land, especially if the winning bidder uses the site for something other than refining.

Several prospective purchasers interested in PES Philadelphia refinery site

U

p to 12 groups are considering acquiring

the Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery site, pitching various uses for the facility that has been used to store and process fossil fuels for the last 150 years.

According to a Reuters report, parties that have publicly declared their pursuit of the PES complex include a group led by former PES Chief Executive Officer Philip Rinaldi, which

has proposed restarting the full 335,000 barrelper-day refinery and adding renewable natural gas production.

Philadelphia-based S.G. Preston pitched a

renewable diesel and renewable jet fuels operation that would use a portion of the plant’s processing and logistics infrastructure, and real estate developers have also made early bids.

Soil and water at the PES site have been contaminated by more than a century of hydrocarbon releases, and chemicals harmful to human health, such as benzene, have been detected on the compound, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

PES is currently responsible for clean-up costs for contamination that happened after 2012, when the company was formed. Previous refinery owners are charged with clearing earlier contamination.

Sunoco, one of the previous owners of the refinery, has agreed to spend over $200 million on a groundwater clean-up effort at the site.

8

News Extra

CompEx celebrates 25 years protecting high hazard industry workers C

several guest speakers including Dr Paul Logan – Director and Head of Chemical,

9 to celebrate 25 years of keeping people safe in the industry. CompEx, part of the JTL Group, is the only

Explosives, Microbiological and Hazards Division at the UK Health and Safety Executive, who spoke about the continuing

Certification Body that offers UKAS accredited certification for personnel who work in explosive atmospheres.

need for competency of both individuals and companies within industry to help ensure the safety of those working in

ompEx held a reception at the Palace of Westminster on October

The internationally accredited CompEx Scheme for the protection of oil, gas

transformed the North Sea oil and gas industry into a global leader in safety in potentially explosive environments.

and chemical workers was founded as a direct result of Lord Cullen’s 13-month investigation into the Piper Alpha tragedy.

The anniversary celebration, which was hosted in the Palace’s Churchill Room by

This led to 106 recommendations that

CompEx chair, Steven Bratt, welcomed

hostile environments.

In his speech, CompEx Operations Manager Martin Jones said: “Over the last 25 years, CompEx has played a crucial role in raising safety in working environments where there’s the potential risk of explosive atmospheres.

This landmark event here at Westminster has been a true testament to all the individuals who have ensured the success and worldwide growth of the scheme.”

Concluding the speeches, JTL’s Chief Executive, Jon Graham, said: The huge impact CompEx has had on improving safety in the workplace, the promotion of safe working practices, as well as harmonising world safety standards in explosive atmospheres is second to none, and it’s been a great privilege to celebrate here today.”

Left to Right: Jon Graham - Chief Executive JTL, Martin Jones - Operations Manager CompEx, Steven Bratt - Chair of CompEx

www.hazardexonthenet.net

CompEx awards 9,000 certificates to technicians and engineers every year, helping to improve competency and safety in the workplace. For more information, visit www.compex.org.uk.

News Extra

9

South Sudan oil pipeline leak affects wide area A

report by VOA News from South

National Petroleum Corporation, Malaysia’s

Activists have long warned of the

Sudan quoting a local government official claimed an oil leak from a ruptured pipeline had had a serious impact on the surrounding population

Petronas, India’s ONGC Videsh and South Sudan’s government-run Nile Petroleum Corporation.

consequences to residents and the environment from oil spills in the area, where facilities have been battered by war and some lay dormant for years until a peace deal was

and environment.

Chuang said as much as 2,000 barrels of oil could have leaked into the surrounding land and water since the pipeline burst.

signed in 2018.

Budang County commissioner Gatiep Both Gabriel said the impact had been serious over a wide area, poisoning people and killing cattle and trees. He said the oil had leaked into the River Nile killing fish, and villagers could be drinking contaminated water.

While the minister said only an area of 400 square metres was impacted, local officials told AFP a river used by residents of three counties

Speaking publicly for the first time since the

has been heavily polluted. They said the spill affected all three counties of greater Rubkona and the oil had polluted the main river.

oil pipeline broke on September 25, South Sudan petroleum minister Awow Daniel Chuang said the oil spill, 15 kilometres

Chuang said some pipelines in the area have not been in use since late 2013 when fighting

north of Lalubo in Northern Liech state, was contained after Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) dispatched foreign experts to the scene.

GPOC is an oil consortium owned by China’s

We are your trusted source for ATEX, IECEx and North American certification csagroup.org

broke out in South Sudan and warned there could be more oil leaks on the horizon.

He said the ministry plans to contract a foreign company to carry out an environmental audit.

A 2014 study by Cordaid reported that: “Oil production pollutants are suspected by communities to have caused many new health problems, such as increased infertility in women, a higher number of miscarriages, and eye and skin problems.”

German NGO Sign of Hope, which has investigated the impact of oil pollution in the country, estimates as many as 600,000 people may be affected.

According to AFP, at its peak, oil production in South Sudan was at 350,000 barrels a day. Since the signing of the peace deal production has gone from 135,000 to 178,000 barrels a day.

10 News Extra

A

State Department official has said that a mysterious explosion at a

Russian naval test range in the White Sea in August occurred during an operation to recover a nuclear-powered missile that had crashed during a test.

The blast, at the Nyonoksa test range, sent a plume of radiation over the White Sea shipbuilding port of Severodvinsk, with worried residents rushing to buy up iodine drops from local pharmacies. Iodine is often used as a first resort to protect the thyroid gland from being irradiated in the event of a nuclear incident.

According to a report by RFE/RL, US analysts had been trying to work out what happened following contradictory statements from Russian local and federal government officials about the nature of the explosion on August 8 and the danger it posed to local residents.

US says August Russian radiation release took place during recovery of crashed cruise missile

“The United States has determined that the explosion…was the result of a nuclear reaction that occurred during the recovery of a Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile,” US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas G. DiNanno told a United Nations committee on October 10.

Severodvinsk is 30 kilometres east of Nyonoksa and is home to a sizable naval presence as well as a shipbuilding factory where nuclear-powered submarines for the Russian fleet are built.

The day the blast happened, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed a fatal incident at the range, which has been used for decades by the Soviet and Russian navies for weapons testing. The ministry said that two people had been killed but gave no other details.

Two days later, the state-run atomic energy

“The missile remained on the bed of the White Sea since its failed test early last year,

agency Rosatom revealed that five of its employees had been killed while they were conducting “technical-engineering oversight”

in close proximity to a major population centre,” DiNanno said.

of a test of “radioactive isotope fuel for a liquidfuelled rocket engine.”

Representative image - Shutterstock

News Extra 11

Venezuela denies responsibility for oil spills along a thousand kilometres of Brazil’s coastline

V

enezuela’s government on October 10 denied it was the source of oil spills that have contaminated beaches in Brazil, after a Brazilian official said

Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque said the government had not confirmed the origin of the oil, but noted that it had properties similar to Venezuelan

has an unusual challenge: most oil releases sit at the surface, leaving a characteristic oily sheen. This spill floats below the surface, rendering it invisible, unmappable and

the crude was likely from Venezuela.

In a joint statement, the oil ministry and state oil company Petroleos de

petroleum.

immune to normal containment barriers.

Brazilian authorities have little ability to estimate even how much of the oil may still

Venezuela (PDVSA) said the company had not received any reports from clients or subsidiaries about any oil spills near Brazil.

of Bahia, one of the states hit by the oil pollution, said on Thursday that their lab studies found a “strong correlation” between slicks spilled off Brazil coast and one of the types of oil produced in Venezuela.

“We consider the statements unfounded,” the statement read, noting the spills were located about 6,650 kilometres from its oil infrastructure. “There is no evidence of any crude spill in Venezuela’s oil fields that could have caused damage to our neighbour’s marine ecosystem.”

Earlier, Brazilian Environment Minister

Researchers at the Federal University

be in the ocean and waiting to come ashore.

Venezuela’s oil production has plummeted

Local citizens and volunteer groups have been handling most of the cleanup duty since the spill began, leading some citizens and local leaders to question where the government’s resources are when they are needed most. About 1,500 military personnel have been assisting with cleanup, and in late October the Brazilian Defence Ministry dispatched a further 5,000 soldiers to help the oil removal effort.

in recent years due to underinvestment and mismanagement, and more recently due to

The region’s estimated 130,000 fishermen

“None of the types of oil produced in Brazil have characteristics of the samples analyzed,” the university’s Institute of Geosciences said in a statement.

Ricardo Salles said thick crude oil that had been mysteriously washing up on over a thousand kilometres of beaches in

US sanctions on PDVSA designed to force out socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

are also likely to be seriously affected. The full effects of oil contamination on local fisheries and the health implications of consuming any

nine northeastern states over the last two months is “very likely from Venezuela.”

The Brazilian navy also supports the theory that the oil originated from a ship on the high seas, and it says that it has identified 30 tankers which could potentially be linked to the spill.

tainted seafood are not yet known, but initial testing suggests widespread damage to marine life in coastal waters.

Whatever its origins, the spill response effort

endangered species.

Salles told a congressional hearing that the spill, “accidentally or not,” likely came from a foreign ship navigating near Brazil’s coast.

In addition, the coastline is an important habitat for rare sea turtles and many other

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12 News Extra

Kern County oil spill – Image: California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

around 32,000 barrels of oil and water were released covering almost an acre

viscous oil beneath the surface. Surface expressions have been outlawed since

of dry stream bed.

April 2019 under regulations brought in by the DOGGR. The regulations also prohibit the transportation of oil and water through open unlined channels and ditches.

The US Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) said that Chevron allowed four spills to occur where steam

Chevron fined $2.7m for uncontrolled oil spills in California

U

S regulators fined Chevron $2.7

had been injected into the ground in order to extract oil. Acting Oil and Gas Supervisor Jason Marshall said that the spills caused a significant threat to both human health and the local environment.

DOGGR said in a statement that Chevron had allowed oil from four spills to run downhill. On many occasions, regulators observed the use of “pumps, bins, and a vacuum truck to capture oil from the unlined channel and transport

Chevron has been working closely with regulators during the cleanup process which is now almost complete, according to the oil major.

it for processing”. Regulators added: “The oil flowing at the site was at a high temperature, producing steam, and could cause burns or ground instability,

The fine consists of $900,000 for failing to prevent surface expressions of oil and a further $1,832,991 for not complying

making the area around the surface expressions unsafe for humans.”

According to local media, Chevron had

million on October 2 for illegally allowing uncontrolled oil spills at the Cymric Oil Field in Kern County,

with transport requirements for oil. The surface expressions are thought to be the result of Chevron’s cyclic steam

been issued with a number of Notices of Violations for previous surface expressions during the last year. These

California. The spills occurred between May and July earlier this year when

operations where steam is injected into an oil production well in order to dislodge

incidents were not considered as part of the October 2 fine.

Modbus displays

Photo: Øyvind Hagen / StatoilHydro

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News Extra 13

Artist’s impression of gravity energy site - Image: Gravitricity

owner Gravitricity has teamed up with Dutch winch specialist Huisman to build a 250kW scale prototype.

“The climate emergency means we need to find new ways to capture and store green energy so we can use it when we need it,” Gravitricity Managing Director Charlie Blair said.

While the developers will target former mine shafts initially, in the longer term they plan to sink purpose-built shafts wherever required. They are currently in discussion with mine owners in the UK, South Africa, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic.

University researchers say gravity energy storage could be significantly cheaper than li-ion batteries A

The analysts at Imperial Consultants said the Gravitricity system performs particularly well in the ‘peak-shaving’ market, a service which ensures the balancing of electricity demand and supply during peak demand periods to reduce the strain on power system infrastructure.

This typically requires a storage system to discharge for two to six hours, twice a day. The analysis was based on a 10MW maximum capacity delivering 24MWh – this

system that stores excess renewable energy in weights suspended above disused mineshafts

The scheme mimics pumped-storage hydropower projects such as Dinorwig in Wales and Cruachan in Scotland, which

translates to around 2.5 hours discharge duration at maximum power output.

could be cheaper than lithium-ion batteries, according to a report by independent analysts at Imperial

have played a key role in helping to balance the UK electricity grid.

The system is also well suited to the fast frequency response market, which requires multiple short cycles and high power

College London.

Oliver Schmidt, the lead author of Imperial’s report, said the model, developed by UK energy startup Gravitricity, is the most price competitive energy storage option because it has a relatively low upfront cost and a potential lifespan of more than 25 years.

availability.

The report found that electricity released by a typical 10MW lithium-ion battery project,

“Mechanical systems such as ours are very cost-effective, as we can cycle

would cost $367 (£283) per megawatthour over its lifetime compared with a cost of $171 (£132)/MWh for electricity from a Gravitricity project.

several times per day with no performance degradation, enabling us to deliver a range of different services to grid operators.

This means we can also stack up different revenue streams to improve our business

Schmidt said: “I don’t expect Gravitricity to displace all lithium batteries on grids, but it certainly looks like a compelling proposition.”

case.”

The idea behind the technology is simple.

Excess energy from renewables when demand is low is used to lift a massive weight or weights to the top of a shaft.

These can then be stacked and released when demand is high, delivering energy rapidly back to the grid.

This can be done many times a day for many years, without any loss of performance and makes it very competitive against other forms of energy storage – including lithium-ion batteries.

Up to 24 weights totalling 12,000 tonnes can be stacked in a mine shaft to capture power and can then be released with subsecond response time.

The proposed system received a £650,000 grant from Innovate UK last year, and patent

“The report validates our belief that energy storage with a long life can be built into the infrastructure of the grid, potentially saving billions in grid upgrades,” Blair said.

Recent figures have shown that renewables are producing record levels of electricity for the UK, but their intermittency can cause problems for the National Grid when compared to baseload power.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

14 News Extra “Firstly, there are significant challenges associated with ageing facilities, which require sustained focus and commitment to ongoing investment in plant, people and processes to ensure continued safe and secure operation, such that hazards are adequately controlled.

Chief Inspector recognises improvements across UK nuclear sector but says more must be done

I

“We have also observed that certain sectors of the industry have experienced a reduction in conventional health and safety performance, and renewed efforts are required to ensure this performance improves and the trend reversed. This is particularly relevant as considerable work is either underway or planned by the nuclear industry in new build construction, postoperational clean out, decommissioning and demolition.

n his first Annual Report on the UK’s nuclear industry, Chief Nuclear Inspector Mark Foy said that although

*Continued scrutiny of Hunterston B power station which features the most advanced symptoms of graphite reactor core

the sector had overall continued to meet the high standards of safety and security required to protect workers

degradation in the Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor fleet;

is a real opportunity to deliver improved organisational ownership and cultural change on security matters. To this end,

and the public, there remained room for improvement.

*Enhanced regulatory oversight at Dungeness B where both reactors have been shut down during the last year due to a range of complex age-related issues

my inspectors will be seeking to ensure that dutyholders embed an effective security culture across their organisations.”

identified, the Chief Inspector said the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) had focused its attention on securing commitments

which are being addressed by licensee EDF Energy;

So far in 2019, ONR has taken a number of measures to enhance the safety and security of the UK nuclear sector. Highlights include:

and plans from the industry to improve performance in a timely manner.

*Ageing plutonium storage facilities at Sellafield which require sustained investment and focus by Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear

It detailed good progress in several areas including continued hazard and risk reduction at Sellafield; the transition of

Decommissioning Authority and government.

The Chief Inspector has specifically

Energy regarding Hunterston B Reactor 4, focusing specifically on whether the cracking observed in the reactor graphite

Bradwell power station into a period of Care and Maintenance – marking a UK first; the piloting of new site security plans in line

challenged industry to deliver improved performance on three key themes in 2019/20 and onwards. These are: management of

core will compromise its fundamental nuclear safety requirements. The assessment concluded that an adequate safety case has

with ONR’s Security Assessment Principles, launched in 2017; and the issue of consent for the first ‘nuclear concrete’ pour at Hinkley Point C.

ageing facilities, conventional health and safety and delivering a holistic approach to nuclear security.

been provided to allow a further period of operation.

In areas where shortfalls have been

The report also recognised a number of challenges which require continued focus over the coming year. These include: *Increased attention at defence weapons and propulsion sites, notably Devonport naval base and the Atomic Weapons Establishment, where programmes to upgrade ageing facilities have experienced delays;

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Mark Foy said: “I am satisfied that the nuclear industry has overall continued to meet the requisite high standards of safety and security to protect workers and the public. Where shortfalls have been identified, we will focus our efforts in order to secure the sustainable improvements we require.

“Thirdly, the implementation of our Security Assessment Principles across the sector

*An extensive assessment of the detailed safety case submitted by the licensee EDF

*ONR has served Improvement Notices on the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) relating to the way the company undertakes risk assessments for organisational change which may affect safety.

“In presenting this report, I highlight the importance of the industry applying

*It also granted an extension to two Improvement Notices issued to EDF Energy following an incident at Heysham 1 power station in November 2018, when a valve on a steam system failed resulting in injuries to

increased attention in three key areas.

three EDF Energy employees.

News Extra 15

were shut down, including both at the Dungeness power station in Kent and

Dungeness NPP – Image: EDF

one at Hartlepool in County Durham for planned maintenance. One of the reactors at Hunterston in Ayrshire was closed for inspections of its graphite core.

At the end of October, EDF Energy’s operational nuclear reactors were providing 17% of the UK’s electricity, according to National Grid.

Nuclear generation in UK drops significantly in 2019 while French output remains similar to 2018

E

DF Energy, the UK subsidiary of

the French state-controlled utility, said output at its eight nuclear power stations was 36.8 terawatt hours (TWh) between January and September 2019, down 20% on the same period

of 2018. Output was down 11.8% in September to 4.5 TWh.

EDF said total electricity output from its 58 nuclear reactors in France for the first nine months of the year stood at 288.2 TWh, down 0.6% compared with the same period a year previously. In the month of September, output fell 8.6% year-on-year to 27.5 TWh due to a high number of reactor outages.

EDF’s nuclear electricity generation in

On October 30, dashboards on the

France was at 393.2 TWh in 2018 and it is targeting 395 TWh in 2019. The utility operates all of France’s nuclear reactors,

EDF Energy website showed four of the country’s 15 operational reactors

which account for over 75% of the country’s electricity needs.

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News Extra 17

oppose TC Energy’s efforts to seize land by eminent domain, the legal provision allowing

Shutterstock

a government or company to take control of private land in the interests of the public.

Jorde added that TC Energy had already begun proceedings against 89 landowners along the proposed Keystone XL route with appraisers working to determine a fair value for the land.

The Keystone XL pipeline has been vocally supported by President Donald Trump since he signed a presidential permit in March 2017 authorising its construction. The permit reversed an Obama administration ruling

US Keystone pipeline leaks for second time in two years

which had denied the project a federal permit on environmental grounds.

leak. Federal regulators said an “anomaly” on a weld on the pipeline was to blame.

On November 20, 2017, the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) weighed three routes proposed by TransCanada Corp. The commission approved the Mainline Alternative Route through

The Keystone pipeline is part of a 2,687-mile system that will also include the proposed

Nebraska which was determined to have the least environmental impact of the three proposals. The decision came days after the

(818,000 litres) spill in South Dakota in November 2017.

Keystone XL pipeline, which has faced persistent opposition from environmental groups, Native American tribes and some

5,000-barrel leak from the existing Keystone pipeline which was not considered by the PSC during its discussions because of a

The Keystone pipeline, owned by TC Energy (formerly TransCanada Corp), transports crude from the Alberta oilsands in Canada,

landowners.

Following the September 29 leak, Reuters

2011 law which says impacts from oil spills are not a valid reason for denying permits for construction.

to refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma, passing through North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. It can handle nearly

reported that opposition to the Keystone XL expansion had hardened among landowners along its proposed route in Nebraska who

However, on November 8, 2018, a federal judge revoked President Trump’s 2017

600,000 barrels daily.

said they will use the spill to help block or stall the project in court. TC Energy is currently in the process of securing land easements for the pipeline expansion in Nebraska.

T

he Keystone pipeline has been closed following a 9,000-barrel crude

oil leak in North Dakota. It is the second significant leak from the pipeline in the past two years after a 5,000-barrel

The leak was first discovered on September 29 in a rural area near Edinburg, in the northeast of North Dakota. In a statement, TC Energy said work had begun to clean up the spill and find out the cause of the leak.

permit because it failed to comply with federal environmental regulations. As a result, in March 2019, the Trump administration revoked the prior permit and issued a new permit, bypassing the judge’s ruling. The approval of TC Energy’s pipeline application was then approved by the Nebraska Supreme Court in August 2019. TC Energy says it plans to start construction of the pipeline, which will

Karl Rockeman, Director of the North Dakota

The latest incident brings the number of significant oil spills up to four since the pipeline opened in 2010, much higher than the company estimated during risk

Division of Water Quality, which is in charge of the clean-up operation, said the work on the underground pipeline is intended “to prevent any further oil that may be sitting in the pipeline from being released.”

assessments before the pipeline was approved. TransCanada Corp’s risk assessments said that a leak of more than 50 barrels would occur “not more than once every seven to 11 years over the

take two years to build, in 2020.

entire length of the pipeline in the United States.” Landowners are concerned that the Keystone XL line will be just as problematic.

power generation and energy storage across the US, Canada, and Mexico. The company’s website says the Keystone XL pipeline will bring a $3.4 billion boost to US GDP and lower greenhouse gases by around 19 million metric tonnes when compared to shipping crude by rail.

As well as the previous November 2017 leak, there was also a spill in south-eastern South Dakota in April 2016 which prompted a weeklong shutdown of the pipeline. TC Energy estimated that just under 77,200 litres of oil spilled onto private land during that

Brian Jorde, an attorney for the Nebraska landowners, said that he expects there to be several appeals to District courts to

TC Energy changed its name from TransCanada Corp in May 2019 to better reflect its business, which includes pipelines,

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Digitalisation is king!

Standards 1

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N workshop is training to achieve a common between ATEX and IECEx. No worries – many manufacturers in many different can make you forget that all these of safety high throughout the whole able to report on the first steps of the stones.

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One of the most important adopt the new IEC 60079-33 standard.

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For interested The workshop for the Explosion consequences of this trend are the covers the protection method “s” for “special”, that already more than 20 certificates base • Electrostatic Charge general Test Round 2015 of automation continue to employ consequence, those products have to meet inspections and maintenance.

But those in between my visits tovalue the city, while on successor, Mr.introduced Paul from With the beginning of the New Year, I will drastically shrinking chains and which was to permit theRound quick on 60079-33 been published, an shows that not have the Industrial Committee The Hague, the extension and aPressure numbe responsible might have Meanwell toMeeting manage a in couple significant numbers of manual all requirements which electrical products are manydo differences.

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According • Intrinsic Safety Test Round 2015 innovation cycles in every sector, and adoption of new technologies, new materials am confident that many others will follow. of thousand products covered by ‘Ex’ or workers, whether in production, intended for use in hazardous areas have readers IThings can recommend IECEx 01A Program took place in June 2018 at the Internet of“An (IIOT) asthe the main organisation a new procedure to • Explosion forlaunched Ex “d” Test Round 2017 for Guide: Informative Guide comparing PTB inin Braunschweig, Germany, 80 innovation cycles ininevery sector, and adoption ofPressure new technologies, new materials am confident that many others willand follow. workers, production, intended use hazardous areas have of the thousand products bywhen ‘Ex’ or and respectful coexistence of people of IECEx System.

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Oneelements of most important adopt the this new IEC 60079-33 standard.

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In the eight years the program been field-proven in the area For IECEx, this development is recognition an impossible task.

Every day we see tens of thousands At IEC and IECEx we have recognised these consequences of this trend are the the protection method “s” for “special”, that already more than h In process facility safe areas, thethe speed sincecovers 2003. that its we focus this area hasthe been useful which can be downloaded from IECEx this event.

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Wethe have established special IEC innovation cycles in from every sector, and Now,As adoption of new technologies, new materials am confident that many our test has and risen from a satisfactory level description of one chapter of the 2017 Test ofexperienced adaptation to responsible this trend is restricted industry high levels of safety will be bystandards the innovation of the suppliers and the Under the ATEX directive, the fulfillment of maintained. experienced and responsible drivers.

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20 Asset management

Steps towards a ‘living QRA’ Q

digital technologies, the company has created ‘Cloud QRA’, an online QRA service.

exceedance curves for any release module or target location of interest. Similarly, it

oil and gas industry, both offshore and onshore, to determine compliance by comparing aggregated risk numbers

It is hosted on a cloud server and allows the user to fully define a 3D representation of an offshore installation. It contains

can combine smoke dispersion results with modelling of fluid outflow, ignition, event frequency and thermal loading to determine

with regulatory requirements and tolerability criteria. They allow safety professionals to assess the impact of alternative designs, changes

consequence, frequency and risk models that have been validated using the expertise gained from a long history in major hazards, including large-scale experimental research

thermal exceedance curves for any target location of interest.

during operations, and compliance of installations against their company’s criteria. These snapshots of operations

at the DNV GL test facility located at Spadeadam in Cumbria.

built on Microsoft Azure cloud service allows the use of user authentication and security systems that have been developed

give an insight into a moment in time, essentially a static picture of what is happening on an asset.

The technology can be used to develop living QRAs which can be updated throughout the lifecycle of an installation. For example, Cloud

alongside the management of user roles.

This means project stakeholders can safely and securely alter operational parameters

This article from DNV GL looks at a new generation QRA developed by the

QRA can combine the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) flame accelerator simulator (FLACS) explosion overpressure and

to show exactly how changes impact other functions of the asset. This is done by creating a digital twin. The structure for tools

dispersion results to determine overpressure

such as Cloud QRA is shown in Figure 1.

uantitative risk assessments (QRAs) have long been used in the

company that makes use of the latest digital technologies to offer living QRAs which can be updated throughout the lifecycle of an installation.

In traditional QRAs, input information is often taken from paper or non-intelligent electronic sources as well as digital documents. The process can be time consuming and quality assurance can be difficult to provide. Once all the input data is collated, numerous simulations of accident scenarios are conducted to obtain a detailed risk picture for the installation.

DNV GL has been at the forefront of the development of QRA methodologies for many decades. Through the influence of

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Figure 1 - Structure of Cloud QRA

Using the DNV GL QRA data structure

Asset management 21 Summary of the key benefits • Data extraction – use of native engineering data, originating within ‘intelligent’ Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) and 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) models, to produce a set of auditable QRA inputs • Database – stores the asset data in a structured and consistent format and gives instant access to the full QRA lifecycle history for asset and cross asset views • Cloud environment – superior flexibility in user access, speed of deployment of enhancements and for models, significant computational scaling capability

Figure 2 - QRA Data Sources and Interconnectivity [Tomkins et al, 2019]

• 2D/3D graphical reporting – displays visual representation of data to generate an increased understanding and provide clear indication of the impact of incidents on

to similar data sources which can lead to inconsistencies or duplication of effort. In addition, there may not be agreed formats,

layout drawings, 3D models, 2D plot plans and tabulated data. The QRA process is therefore ideally placed as a starting point

locations across the asset for non-experts • Power BI reporting – allows data to be displayed and interrogated in a variety of formats and customised depending on the

with every operator or engineering firm choosing its own software and practices. For example, an engineering subcontractor may generate a set of intelligent electronic P&IDs

for a digital twin.

Making a copy

for a facility; however, the deliverable to the operator is often a flat PDF of these drawings and, as such, electronic information is lost.

shaping a data structure which crosses several engineering disciplines and offers a standardised format. By separating out the

A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical asset that uses multiple sources of data to ensure the model can be updated to reflect changes to the physical asset. Such

Currently, significant effort is spent identifying, collating, interpreting and manipulating the same sources of data for multiple needs.

hazard modelling from the data storage, the QRA database becomes the ‘single source of truth’ with the hazard modelling merely becoming one of many different data

a concept is increasingly being discussed across a wide range of industries. They bring significant benefits for the management

The need to improve efficiencies and reduce costs has prompted the industry to consider the course required to reach a viable digital

manipulation processes applied to the data.

of data and decision-making, providing a consistent single true source of evidence.

twin model.

Rebooting QRA standards

is understanding the flow of data required between the process design engineers / operators to the risk analyst. A range

In the process industry, digital replicas of the physical asset have been used for decades to generate QRAs. However, there remains

For safety engineers working to model hazards, the studies required as part of the QRA process are generated through a range

of initiatives, not unique to QRA, can be extrapolated to modernise QRA processes and include data collection, interpretation,

a reliance on paper documents, drawings or partial models created for specific tasks. There is not always a coherent link

of engineering disciplines. These include process, electrical, structural, weather, marine and manning, often shown in the form of

storage, processing and results presentation.

Collectively, these identify a path towards a digital twin (Figure 2).

requirements of the project.

Data management practices influenced by the QRA process provide a framework for

The key to improving the current process

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22 Asset management Currently, the QRA process requires the collation of several sources of data, running models and producing outputs in static reports to assess the total risk presented by a facility or operation. These typically summarise the detailed work undertaken and return high-level results which are compared with tolerability criteria or to demonstrate ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable).

The technology can be used to develop living QRAs which can be updated throughout the lifecycle of an installation

results in formatted structures from the database using query language.

Using this format for managing offshore QRA data has informed the technical advisor’s response to the changing digital landscape, and as such, a significant development program has been undertaken to transfer

Development of cloud-based tools to support the QRA process can turn the traditional static QRA into a dynamic online

Digitalising and standardising this data can be grouped under the following innovations:

QRA tools into a cloud environment. A database and analytics engine were moved to the cloud, with a web interface replacing the desktop interface. The cloud server now provides both storage and processing capacity under a managed network where all

living QRA which can be updated throughout an installation’s lifecycle by creating a digital twin. The collated input data is used for several aspects of the QRA process.

• Data capture - mapping of the available data into a suitable format • Data hub - Storage of relevant information for an asset in a centralised cloud location

data is backed up automatically on a regular basis. This ensures there is no data loss in the case of server failure and continuity of the data, assumptions and output

Reinventing the model

• Data results - interactive results for stakeholders to use in decision-making.

There are a range of drawbacks which are inherent in using the traditional approach

Bringing it to life

maintained. The project has established the foundation for the data hub and use of the cloud environment has gained the flexibility required to meet several needs.

to set up the static QRA model. Data can be easily missed in manual processes such as parts counts or isolatable section

DNV GL has previously managed offshore QRA data using a central database on a network server, ensuring continuity and

Interactive dashboards (Figure 3) are increasingly being used to display

identification. As interpretation of the data may be subjective, audit trails can be put in doubt and reporting is not always intuitive to the non-expert. This can result in inaccurate

consistency through the lifecycle of the asset. This route was developed to allow multiple users access to a central database running validated consequence and risk

aggregated metrics that can be used to ‘drill down’ into the detailed results to provide insights in a way that is not practical in a static report. This concept is

reports, incomplete or unclear data and reanalysis.

models remotely. This remains fundamental to the digital twin approach.

perfectly suited to QRA results since these are often amalgamations of thousands (or millions) of simulation cases describing the

The key to improving the current process is understanding the flow of data required between the process design engineers/

This central database allows DNV GL the ability to access a QRA model created in the system at any point in the last 20 years from

combination of circumstances that may exist in an accident. Dashboard software can be linked directly to the data hub to

operators to the risk analyst and other technical disciplines with the aim of developing techniques to automatically

a central location. In this approach, version controls are in place to track changes as an asset evolves and build up a timeline of the

provide a meaningful snapshot of the assets, consequence and risk data that can be interrogated down to fundamental levels

convert data from one form or structure to another.

QRA. Users can access any of the inputs and perform intermediate calculations and

particularly if the data lies within hierarchical structures.

Figure 3 - Interactive QRA Dashboard

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Asset management 23

In addition to dashboards, visual representations of the data (Figure 4) can be used to provide an increased understanding to the non-expert. For example, using contour plots to understand where hazards are concentrated, or 3D representations of a hazard. Similar to the interactive dashboards, these visuals can take slices of data from the hub and be viewed via a standard internet browser.

In addition, since some of the information has been defined spatially (e.g. critical locations), the 2D and 3D visuals can be used as a means of navigating results, by selecting the point of interest, and pulling out the information of interest to that point.

Figure 4 - 3D visual of risks (semi-transparent blocks), key points (green dots) and escape routes (blue lines)

Case study

C

loud QRA has recently been used to support an operator in the US for risk evaluations of several of their facilities. They were attracted to the cloud solution given the

comprehend the detailed information presented; others have only a high-level comprehension of risk metrics and are more interested in summary information. The ability to customise the output

Approaches to streamlining the QRA process are critical for developing riskoptimal designs which, in the long term, will protect the public, the workforce, and the

online access and on-demand ability to review the input and output data related to the QRA. The interactive dashboards allow them to drill

to match the needs of a given stakeholder is a strong feature of the system.

reputations of the companies that continue to build ever larger and more complex plants, as well as the reputation of the oil and gas

down into the finer details and results which wouldn’t be available in traditional reporting.

The numerous results related to a specific part of the process or area could then be used

A digital and dynamic future Overall, the digital twin concepts allow a wider range of stakeholders to determine risk drivers, isolate accident scenarios and filter results to a

Ultimately as the digital twin concept evolves, it is hoped that the industry will converge

to make more informed risk-based decisions.

There is potential to improve the dashboards

greater depth than is possible through a paper report and allow a greater understanding of their hazards. Reducing the time to collate data,

on standardisation of how the detailed engineering and operational data is stored for the benefit of the supply chain. In this way,

to make sure the information required by various stakeholders is readily available and comprehensible. Some client users

perform analysis and enhance the tools available to report results means that decisions can be made more rapidly, increasing the efficiency of

analytical tools used within the industry simply become users of the data and can “plug in� to provide important insights to the asset

are experienced risk analysts able to easily

analytical processes for the whole asset lifecycle.

owners.

industry as a whole.

About the authors This project was conceived and developed by Zoe Wattis, Paul Murray, Jo-Anne Tomkins, Mike Golowczynski, and Alf Sadd of DNV GL.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

24 Storage additional particles generated by a fire.

This helps reduce the risk of a false alarm.

19 SIL approved addressable weatherproof manual call points were also installed throughout the site. These allow site occupants to manually sound the alarm in the event of a fire or life safety incident, further safeguarding against a system failure.

These have been specially designed and approved for use in some of the most demanding applications, including oil platforms and marine environments.

Case study: Fire protection at a new oil products storage facility in Ghana T

he New Petroleum Products Storage and Distribution Terminal is spread across an area of more than 113,000 square metres in the port city of Tema near Accra in Ghana. Eight buildings on the site all required the highest possible standard of fire protection.

Oil and gas facilities can be particularly challenging environments when it comes to specifying life safety systems. The presence of hazardous and potentially volatile materials requires a close focus on safety considerations. In addition, higher than usual levels of smoke, dust and other particulates in the atmosphere can pose a challenge for accurate fire detection resulting in a need for highly intelligent detection devices.

Metron Energy Applications, a Greekbased provider of oil and gas industry construction solutions, led the development of the Tema facility. It was essential that any products installed as part of the fire detection system would allow the facility managers to quickly identify hazards in order to help them take appropriate action to protect the site, its workers and the surrounding area.

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In any hazardous environment, there is a whole raft of fire safety considerations that need to be taken into account

Featuring integral short-circuit isolators to ensure loop performance, they also offer rapid response communications to reduce the risk of false alarms.

Both the photoelectric sensors and the weatherproof manual call points installed at the facility are compatible with Hochiki Europe’s ESP open protocol, in line with the application’s need for a flexible and intelligent fire and life safety solution.

As a result of Hochiki Europe’s equipment, the site now has a fire safety system capable of meeting the strict requirements of such a hazardous environment.

Speaking about the project, Angelos Angelikas, Technical Manager at Formula Techniki, said: “In any hazardous environment, there is a whole raft of fire safety considerations that need to be taken into account.

Formula Techniki, the installers, specified a number of products from Hochiki Europe’s Safety Integrity Level (SIL) range. A total of 18 SIL approved wall sounders and 45 SIL approved photoelectric smoke sensors were installed across the storage facility. These

“To match the increased risks faced by building occupants in these hazardous locations, we needed to use products globally-recognised for their high quality and enhanced performance. With a dedicated

sensors feature variable sensitivity levels, allowing the facility managers to increase or decrease the sensor threshold, depending on the surrounding operating environment.

range of SIL products and approvals from the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), Hochiki Europe was the obvious choice.”

This improves the so-called “signal-tonoise” ratio, meaning the sensors can be set to ensure they are not triggered by the background “noise” caused by the constant presence of airborne material normally found in the vicinity, but only by the unique “signals” resulting from the release of

About the author Robert Head is currently Specialist Product Business Manager at Hochiki Europe spearheading the company’s strategy on specialist products and their applications.

Connectors 25

The advantages of quick connectors for multi-channel fibre in explosive atmospheres

T

his article by Phillip Hoyle of Optical

and oil rigs, multi-channel high speed fibre

Cable Corporation highlights one solution for rapid certification of fibreoptic cabling installed in explosive

optic cable monitors equipment status and communicates predictive notifications when components are in danger of failing. Such

atmospheres.

capabilities create significant cost savings by avoiding extended downtime due to equipment failures.

As automation expands across all industrial sectors, the demand for multi-channel fibre optic cable continues to increase, with rising demand for high-count, highbandwidth fibre, capable of delivering the ever-increasing amount of data required in a single cable.

OCC Atex quick connector

moved around. Here, the ability to quickly change and reconfigure fibre cables can save considerable time and cost.

This requirement is often most pressing in locations where space limitations simply

This is even more true for offshore applications, where the expense of helicoptering in a fibre technician every time

won’t permit installation of extensive runs of low-count fibre, such as offshore platforms.

a cable requires servicing or replacement can be prohibitive.

For sectors such as oil and gas, there is a considerable advantage in installing pre-

Another situation that needs to be addressed is when equipment is damaged.

terminated plug-and-play quick connectors that meet international standards for explosive atmospheres.

Here, cables might need replacing or configurations changing, and the use of connectors that can quickly be plugged in or unplugged avoids prolonged service downtime and facilitates recovery.

As an example, fibre is increasingly being used in upstream exploration and production where land-based rigs are

Quick connectors are an ideal solution for applications that require frequent teardown and setup. Each receptacle can be mounted to an increased safety or flameproof enclosure, allowing for multiple easy connect and disconnect deployments.

Traditionally, cable connectors have been a major area of risk when running fibre optic cabling in explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres. Ensuring these connectors are ATEX or IECEx certified speeds up the certification process and can reduce time to market.

About the author Phillip Hoyle is Business Development Specialist, POG, Mining and Industrial, at Optical Cable Corporation.

In both offshore and land-based natural gas

www.hazardexonthenet.net

26 Non-electrical ignition

The step-by-step guide to storing, handling and installing flameproof motors T

here are some important considerations when it comes to deploying flameproof motors in potentially explosive atmospheres, and a number of these criteria are set out in the IEC 60079 series of

In this article, Marek Lukaszczyk from WEG outlines a number of steps to ensure the safe storage, handling and installation of flameproof motors and how failure to heed this advice could have serious consequences.

standards. For instance, IEC 60079 not only specifies the appropriate design and definition of flameproof motor components, but explains the correct installation, maintenance and inspection processes required

The correct installation and operation of flameproof motors is vital to maximise the working life of any machinery that is expected to function in hazardous environments, resulting in less downtime

It is worth pointing out that flameproof electric motors, particularly high-power models, are valuable assets which can significantly impact project budgets. With this in mind, correct storage is critical. For example, when motors arrive and are not

to retain certification.

and remedial work which would otherwise

immediately unpacked, they should be

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impact on end-user processes. Moreover, respect for the manufacturer’s storage instructions and start-up inspection procedures can significantly improve motor reliability throughout its operational life.

Non-electrical ignition 27

stored in places protected against humidity, sudden heat changes and vibration, as these factors can potentially damage motor components and reduce service life considerably.

Avoid humidity Motors supplied with space heaters should be stored with them switched on to avoid the accumulation of internal condensation.

Here, maintaining the inner temperature of stored motors at around 2 to 3ºC above ambient will have the desired effect. Always store flameproof motors in well-ventilated

Electric motors must be installed in locations with easy access for maintenance and inspection. Under no circumstances should motors be installed in boxes 45º from its initial position. If in storage for

Regularly inspect motor condition In all cases, periodic motor inspections should be conducted for any signs of physical damage, contamination, or the presence of water condensation or other aggressive agents. Checking ambient and winding temperatures and relative humidity and recording any vibration during storage are vital to correctly evaluate a motor’s status before start-up.

Following long-term storage, the motor should be cleaned and dried before

areas, ensuring a minimum clearance of approximately one-quarter of the frame size around the motor to promote normal air flow. Notably, space heaters also maintain

longer than six months, the bearings will require greasing before start-up.

For storage purposes, any motors with

commencing operations. Always check that the motor is completely sealed with regard to areas such as the terminal box and drain holes prior to cleaning. Dry

the winding insulation resistance within acceptable levels, thus prolonging motor life.

Staying with the theme of insulation

sleeve bearings need to be filled with the correct quantity of oil, as they are usually supplied dry. After every two months of storage, the shaft should be rotated at

cleaning, by vacuuming for example, is often preferable to wet cleaning. Also, take care that cleaning the motor does not lead to the build-up of static.

resistance, after prolonged storage this needs to be measured before operating the motor. Moreover, if the ambient

about 30 rpm for oil circulation. If it is not possible to rotate the shaft, further instructions for maintaining corrosion-free

In terms of the cleaning process itself, remove the fan cover and ensure that all

atmosphere exhibits high levels of humidity, measuring tasks should be conducted regularly. Limit values defined by IEEE-43 must be checked. If the test is performed

contact surfaces must be consulted in the motor’s manual. Starting the motor after a long storage period without correct care of the bearing system can lead to failure and

air inlet holes are completely free of dirt or contamination. Additionally, any dust, dirt and obstructions should be removed from behind the fan and along any frame

at a temperature other than 40ºC, it will be necessary to adjust the value in line with IEEE-43 correction curves.

destruction of the sleeve bearings.

ribs. It is important to prevent dust from

When checking for winding insulation resistance, the terminal boxes should also be observed to see if the interior is dry and free of any dust accumulation; whether the contact elements are free of corrosion; if the flameproof joint is free of rust and any kind of damage or scratches; and whether the cable inlets are correctly sealed with certified cable glands (or certified plugs if not in use).

Ensure corrosion-free joints and surfaces Flameproof joints need to be free of corrosion. Prior to assembly following prolonged storage, the enclosure’s flameproof joint surfaces must be protected with grease, thus avoiding any potential for the propagation of rust. Similarly, with motor bearings, any extended storage periods make it necessary to remove the shaft locking device and rotate the shaft manually every two months. After rotation, the end position of the shaft should be

www.hazardexonthenet.net

28 Non-electrical ignition

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Non-electrical ignition 29

accumulating on the exterior of the motor, as it could impair cooling.

circumstances should motors be installed in boxes or covered with materials that

documentation, as poorly selected cables may overheat and ignite the hazardous

may impede or reduce free air circulation for cooling purposes.

The requirements for machine foundations can be found, for example, in DIN 40421, where defined limits are specified

atmosphere. For motors fitted with an ‘Ex e’ terminal box, special care must be taken to avoid any looseness of cables in motor terminals by means of cable clamps, washers or any other methods specified by the manufacturer.

enclosure entry is fitted with a certified plug, drain or cable gland depending on its function, and that every flameproof joint which was exposed during storage is free of corrosion, dirt, scratches or visible damage, and protected against rust

for natural foundation frequency when relating to the motor’s speed frequency, double-speed frequency and line frequency. Poor foundation dimensioning can promote vibration in the motor, which may be amplified by its own natural

Last but far from least, any thermal protection devices (such as thermistors and thermostats) fitted to the motors must be correctly connected and monitored via a suitable control circuit.

occurring in the future.

frequencies. When designing the motor base, it is also important to understand that the motor can occasionally be subjected to torques higher than the rated

Aside from the safety implications, any failure in this regard would result in the loss of potentially useful data collection that would otherwise underpin

these plugs must be taken out before commissioning and a suitably certified gland inserted. Furthermore, it is essential that cable entries are not left open, which

torque.

timely preventive action with regard to maintenance and repairs. As a final point, always follow manufacturer recommendations when it comes to

means that if any holes are unused or redundant, they should be mated with suitably certified and correctly inserted

distortion and vibration. A good tip is to seek out motors with frames that offer flat areas for the placement of accelerometers

plugs, preferably ones that can only be removed with the aid of a tool.

– in both vertical and horizontal planes – thus permitting easier monitoring of vibration levels.

The corrosion inhibitor of exposed machined surfaces such as the shaft end must be removed using a cloth soaked in a suitable petroleum-based solvent.

It must also be guaranteed that any

When motors are dispatched with plastic plugs fitted into the cable entry holes,

Bearings must be lubricated with the

Ultimately, the motor must be mounted on a base which is rigid enough to prevent

type of grease listed on the nameplate.

On flameproof motors with re-lubrication facilities, take care to avoid overfilling the

Align with other components

bearing housings as this can present a far greater hazard to trouble-free service than under-greasing, so careful attention

a stable foundation, motors must be properly aligned, while components assembled at the shaft end need to be

is required. Any bearings without relubrication facilities will ultimately require replacement at the prescribed interval.

balanced correctly.

setting alarm and trip temperatures.

About the author

To ensure optimised operation, besides

Always turn the shaft by hand before

Correct motor handling is critical, not only to avert damage, but to guarantee

coupling to detect any possible fault due to incorrect handling. The coupling of a motor with a drive can be made by

personal safety. Only use the eyebolts supplied (or integral lifting holes) to gently lift and lower the motor. To avoid any tilting of the motor during handling, appropriate tools must be used to adjust the lifting point to the motor’s centre of mass. Failure to do so can cause the fan cover to hit the ground before the motor

means of direct coupling, gearbox, or belt and pulley. Appropriate care should be taken according to the coupling type.

For example, it is mandatory that belts operating in hazardous atmospheres are not affected electrostatically. In addition, the mounting and dismounting of couplings must be conducted using the

feet, damaging the exterior fan.

proper tools to avoid shaft-end damage.

Follow installation instructions Electric motors must be installed in locations with easy access for

Clearly, power supply quality is essential to maintain motor life expectancy and the health of windings. Supply cables should be able to withstand motor voltage and

inspection and maintenance. Under no

current as stated on the nameplate and

Marek Lukaszczyk is WEG Marketing Manager for the Europe and Middle East region, a position he has held for over a decade. Responsible for developing and managing marketing initiatives to drive the company’s revenue growth, Marek leads marketing strategy development and execution of marketing plans with partners and country directors across the European and MENA sales territory. Before this role, Marek held the post of Export Marketing Manager at WEG’s headquarters in Brazil running the export marketing department, supporting branches, distributors and supporting the rollout of the company’s new corporate identity.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

30 Lighting

Industrial smart lighting strategies T

he ability to implement smart lighting and sophisticated controls is becoming one of the most

There are two fundamental benefits of LED lighting that make smart lighting technology a possibility:

compelling arguments for converting industrial facilities to LED lighting.

Aside from the energy-saving and maintenance-reducing benefits of

1) Instant-on with no restrike. This critical differentiator between LED and HID sources is a primary factor in smart lighting implementation. For both

LED, smart industrial LED lighting can provide greater visibility – both literally and figuratively – into the business, providing new sources of data to uncover opportunities for productivity and efficiency improvements.

safety and productivity, the lights must come on at full output when the system directs them to, otherwise it could put workers in jeopardy or delay tasks.

2) Dimming capability. While some HID

feasible. LED supports dimming with zero impact on fixture performance.

While these factors give LED technology a smart lighting advantage, implementing it isn’t as simple as just installing LED fixtures.

The complex environment of industrial facilities creates a number of obstacles that can only be overcome with the right technical expertise and industrial-grade equipment designed to withstand the rigorous environment. Here are some of the major hurdles and how to solve them.

Here, Dialight Chief Operating Officer

and fluorescent sources do allow for dimming, it’s often at the expense of fixture life. Dimming puts tremendous

1) IT challenges. Smart lighting systems require sophisticated IT networking infrastructure and expertise, which

Luis Ramirez discusses the major hurdles of adopting smart lighting systems and how to overcome them.

strain on conventional fixtures, shortening their lifespan considerably, to the point that it’s not economically

means installation will require more than just a team of electricians. Getting your IT team onboard from the very beginning of planning stages can help you design a robust network that will resolve potential issues before they become a problem and maximise the value of your smart lighting investment with future-ready capabilities.

Conducting an advanced site survey to identify potential problem areas and devise solutions can also help make installation go much smoother.

2) Metal and concrete. Anyone who’s ever tried to use a mobile device inside an enclosed stadium knows that metal and concrete are virtually impervious to cellular and Wi-Fi signals. And, with

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Lighting 31

these being the primary construction materials in most industrial sites – not to mention the metallic production equipment – connectivity can be extremely difficult. Designing network nodes with industrial-grade signal quality around these obstacles is a critical factor in maintaining the connectivity necessary to run the smart lighting system. Mesh networking design can also help to reduce or eliminate signal issues related to physical obstacles.

3) Dirty power. The heavy power loads required by production equipment can

5) Industrial controls integration.

Existing lighting isn’t the only integration hurdle; most modern facilities are heavily embedded with industrial automation and facilities management systems that monitor productivity, equipment performance, maintenance and a host of other metrics.

The best smart lighting systems will offer integration with leading industrial automation and controls solutions to bring your lighting infrastructure into the fold for maximum efficiency.

6) Scale. The size of your facility will dictate the scope of equipment and infrastructure

8) Future safety applications. One of the key benefits of smart lighting is the potential for future integration with additional sensors to improve plant safety.

For example, companies could use the wireless lighting network to monitor for hazardous gases by adding these sensors into their lighting matrix. Motion sensors can be used to indicate heavy equipment activity and warn workers to stay outside of a certain perimeter with lighting cues.

Or, fixtures can be wired into security and evacuation systems to light the path to safe exit for personnel. However, not

sometimes create “dirty power” conditions in which power drops and surges are commonplace, especially with older wiring and infrastructure. These can

needed to achieve your goals, but you’ll want to choose one that has the capability to scale up as your needs change. While some systems only offer single gateway

all systems support his kind of add-on capability. To get the maximum future value from your smart lighting upgrade, make sure you choose a system that

wreak havoc on sensitive electronics, so any smart lighting system will have to be industrial-grade and built with power protection systems in place. Choose

operation, others support multiple gateways and can span multiple facilities, offering enterprise-wide management systems that enable remote monitoring

offers this kind of flexibility and futurereadiness.

Smart lighting technology is a smart

high-quality fixtures with built-in surge protection and supplement routers, switches and other components with

and control of every facility around the globe. It’s important to look ahead and make sure you don’t get locked-in to

investment that can deliver substantial ROI, both immediately and down the road as facility needs evolve. By leveraging this

additional protection if needed.

4) Integration/interoperability. Most facilities don’t have the capital or capability to completely retrofit the entire

a shortsighted system that won’t scale when the need arises.

7) Security. Because it is a networked system, your smart lighting solution

facility all at once with smart lighting. In most cases, it’s a phased implementation, which means old systems will have to

must include basic digital hygiene practices, including password protection, permissions-based access and real-time

integrate with new during the transition period. You also can’t expect a lighting system to speak every protocol language

monitoring for suspicious activity. As more IIoT devices come online and the risk of cyberattacks grows daily, you must

out there, but a good one will have a few choice strategic interfaces available.

Choosing a system that can integrate

not forget that any connected system – including wireless nodes inside smart fixtures – is a potential inlet for bad actors

with legacy systems, including wired and wireless systems, is important to achieving interoperability throughout the

onto your network. Choosing a smart lighting system with responsible security protocols is a must in today’s high-risk

phases of your smart lighting upgrade.

environment.

future-ready solution for industrial efficiency beyond illumination, companies can turn their lighting from a liability into an asset.

About the author

Luis Ramirez is Dialight’s Chief Operations Officer and is responsible for global operations. Prior to Dialight, Luis worked for MC Assembly, Cooper’s Bussmann division, Laird Technologies, Thomas & Betts, and Eaton’s Cutler Hammer division. Luis holds a Masters in Engineering Management from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico; and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

32 Artificial intelligence

How AI impacts the future of oil an A

ccording to the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), there were 31 fatal

entire industry a step further? Widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) promises to transform safety management in oil and

incidents across the industry in 2018.

This result was down only slightly from 33 the year before. A startlingly small

gas. There’s an opportunity for the sector to shift safety management from a backwardslooking discipline to being able to predict

improvement, given that preventing major accidents, injuries to people and hydrocarbon releases are top priorities across the energy industry.

likely events.

So, what does that mean, not only for the industry but for the safety manager role of tomorrow?

In this article, Heather Stewart, Advisian Digital, and Chris Aitken, SaltGrid, look at the increasing adoption of artificial

Safety management today Safety management has always been a

intelligence and its role in transforming safety in the oil and gas sector.

Thanks to enhancements in technology, safety management in the sector has undoubtedly and steadily improved.

Traditional methods of capturing and handling

www.hazardexonthenet.net

safety information have become incrementally more efficient, helping to keep people and assets increasingly safer.

But what if the future allows us to take the

discipline of continuous improvement, from seeing the redesign of infrastructure to account for human factors, to reformed processes that integrate productivity with safe execution. Each gain brings the industry closer to an operating environment with less risk.

Artificial intelligence 33

and environmental (HSE) data to predict the number, types, and timing of incidents likely

A lesson learned is a lesson shared

to occur in the future.

With less focus on administration and more time to focus on pre-empting, the safety manager of the future will need to be prepared to take a truly collaborative and transparent approach to safety.

Continuously drawing on lessons learned,

Using safety data, these systems are also designed to quickly, and without bias, recognise patterns and relationships that standard business intelligence does not.

Predictive platforms have the potential to shift the time and effort of safety professionals from administrative tasks, such as manipulating and analysing incident, near miss, and leading indicator data to building programs based on what’s likely to happen

and actively sharing experiences with industry peers will become the norm, benefitting everyone working in the sector.

next. And this opens up the role of safety management to a whole new future.

industry collaboration around data sharing.

Anonymised data offers the opportunity to truly automate the lesson learning process between companies and across multiple

Foresight in safety management Far from reducing or diminishing jobs, artificial intelligence has the potential to widen the scope of a safety manager, adding

One of the visions, and even requirements, of predictive AI platforms, is increased

verticals.

While energy companies remain competitive with one another, safety is one

an opportunity to focus on creativity and problem solving.

area of ongoing cooperation. To a large degree, this is a reflection of inherent, shared risk, and the recognition that

There is no doubt that AI-driven platforms could free up considerable time for safety professionals by automating the gathering, cleansing, manipulation, and analysis of

everyone has a part to play in reducing the risk to people, assets, and the environment.

data. That time could be spent looking at the specifics of a project, asset or facility, and considering: ‘How do I apply my safety

Creating a safer world

expertise, based on what these machinegenerated insights are telling me?’ and: ‘What can I do to change the predicted outcome?’

made in managing risk across the energy industry. With the introduction of artificial intelligence into the process, the future

It can also be a discipline of creativity and detective work. After all, identifying repeat patterns associated with incidents in the

Artificial intelligence can put these decisionmaking pinch points front and centre, moving

promises to be more data-driven, more creative, and, most importantly, safer than ever before.

face of indecipherable handwritten or weather-beaten reports from colleagues is no easy feat. Digitalisation has improved

the focus more toward proactive, specific action at a project, asset or facility level. This focus means that future mitigating measures

data capture systems, but the analysis is still predominantly a time-consuming task fraught with human bias.

can be highly targeted and efficient.

nd gas safety

The next generation of digital safety systems promises to deliver more than just information about past incidents that have occurred.

For example, the impact of weather conditions on a day-to-day basis is one area for data-driven improvement. Teams can be alerted to changes in the safety environment created by changes in temperature, wind, or precipitation, by cross matching this

Instead, it is now possible to analyse historical patterns to identify the nature and timing of future events.

with incidents experienced across historical combinations of asset, activity, and conditions.

Predictive analytics platforms have been built to do just this. Cloud-based platforms can

By using historical data around incident patterns, mitigation measures can be put in

apply artificial intelligence to health, safety

place early, further reducing the risk.

Enter artificial intelligence

Driven by advances in data processing capabilities, significant progress has been

About the authors Heather Stewart is Director of Operations at Advisian Digital.

Heather’s nearly 20 years of experience comprises engineering consulting, health, safety and environmental management, project and program management, and talent management.

Chris Aitken is Co-Founder & CEO at SaltGrid, a predictive analytics platform created in partnership between SaltGrid, a data science company based in Silicon Valley and Advisian Digital, Worley’s data science, software and technology business.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

34 Events

International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) 2020 Date: 13-15 January 2020 Location: Dammam, Saudi Arabia Founded in 2005, the International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) is the flagship multidisciplinary technical event in the Eastern Hemisphere. The scope of the conference programme and associated industry activities address technology and relevant industry issues that challenge industry specialists and management around the world.

IPTC is sponsored by four industry

organisations and societies, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG); the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE); the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG); and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

IPTC is focused on the dissemination of new and current technology, best practices and multi-disciplinary activities designed to emphasise the importance of the value chain and maximising asset value. The knowledge, capabilities and strengths of the participating

countries and the sponsoring societies global membership, over the spectrum of multi-disciplinary technologies, are central to the success of the conference and the corresponding exhibition.

Website: http://2020.iptcnet.org/welcome

ME-TECH 2020 Date: 18-20 February 2020 Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ME-TECH 2020 will take place from 18-20 February 2020 in Abu Dhabi. Now in its 10th successive year, ME-TECH continues to attract the best of the Downstream sector, bringing together senior representatives and specialists from regional end-user companies with the leading licensors, technology companies and innovative service and solutions providers. The aim is to share latest projects, discuss market

trends and the challenges and opportunities that come with them and become updated about the latest technological advances which will drive the refining and petrochemicals industries towards greater growth and efficiency.

Delegates will enjoy high-quality networking amidst a landscape of high-level strategic keynote speeches by end-users and NOCs, macro-economic scene setting overviews from industry experts discussing the future of the industry, interesting and interactive

panel discussions on highly topical subjects and technical presentations from technology companies and solution providers.

Website: https://europetro.com/week/ metech2020

Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference Date: 11-13 March 2020 Location: Perth, Australia AOG will showcase the industry’s latest products and services and attracts over 8,000 global visitors providing opportunities to network and learn about the latest technological and innovative breakthroughs

showcasing the latest in Instrumentation Control and Automation, Asset Integrity, Subsea, Health, Safety & Environment and Drilling & Completion. speakers and technical specialists at free-to-

which will drive the industry into the future.

Discover the latest products and innovations from hundreds of Australian and international leading distributors and manufacturers that are driving the industry forward.

attend Conference sessions held in theatres on the Exhibition floor, featuring three Forums dedicated to Collaboration, Subsea and Knowledge.

Explore specialised industry zones

Learn from internationally renowned

Website: https://aogexpo.com.au/

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Data File/Buyers Guide 35

“Ex tb” control panels suitable for ambient with explosive or flammable dusts The control, monitoring and signaling units SA ..., CTB ..., CSTB ... and CTBE ... include a series of enclosures with “Ex tb” method of protection available in aluminum, polyester or stainless steel and in different measures. According to the size and the material chosen, there are three maximum dissipation limits that correspond to each of the three maximum optional ambient temperatures: + 40° C, + 55° C and + 60° C. • ‘Ex tb IIIC T80°C Db’ IP66 method of protection; • several IECEx/ATEX certified ‘Ex tb’ control devices can be mounted on the enclosure faces; • a glass or polycarbonate window can be fixed to the lid; • various electronic devices can be installed internally such as terminals, analog and digital instruments, control and measurement devices, circuit breakers and IECEx/ATEX certified battery packs.

Contact: saleseurope@cortemgroup.com www.cortemgroup.com

Heaters

Buyers Guide

Communications

EX AT

SAFE TALK ST-1

EX MOBILE APPLICATION:

CAMERA:

3G/4G Android 6.0

SIZE:

127 X 63 X 27 MM

5MP Rear Camera

WEIGHT:

`

<200 gms

SPECIFICATION: • • • •

Ex ib IIC Gb T3 tb IIIB Db IP67

FCG Flameproof Control Gears P Ltd.

..Safety First..

Training

Cable Glands

contact

PROTECTION:

8GB Internal 32 GB Expandable -20 0 C to +60 0 C Amb. Temp.

1000 mAH battery

Mumbai, India +91 22 2366 3200 RP@fcg-india.com www.fcg-india.com

To advertise in the Product Datafiles or Buyers Guide Kathryn Startin on

+44 (0)1732 359990 or

kathryn.startin@imlgroup.co.uk

Control Panels

AUTOMATION CONTROL & TECHNOLOGY Your Total Solutions Provider Specialists in design and custom build of a wide range of Hazardous Area Equipment

Registered OEM for Technor Marechal Southampton SO40 9AH +44 (0) 2380 665544 enquiries@trant.co.uk trant.co.uk

DEL

T

i EGA TE o me limi Conference • Workshops • Exhibition • Awards Programme ffers ted avai

alble

CONFERENCE & SEMINAR PROGRAMME RELEASED

Full details at www.hazardex-event.co.uk Day 1 - 26/02/20

Day 2 - 27/02/20

Managing the challenges that hazardous process industries are facing

The Chevron Explosion 2011 – Electrical, Control & Instrumentation Investigation

The role of digitalisation in improving downstream efficiencies and safety

Confusion Over Risk Criteria

An HSE update on cyber security under COMAH and NIS, also issues and challenges emerging using AI IECEx: the Global Standard in Ex Certification Risk management in bomb disposal Further down the rabbit hole – detailed measurement for lead process indicators on barrier failures Importance of safety in the chemicals and ingredients distribution Guidance on Fixed Gas Detection System for use in Safety Instrumented System The Chemicals business What does it mean to be compliant?

Markings Explained The application of Intrinsic Safety in 2020

SIL Certification – Value or Vanity?

Marrying IEC62443 Cybersecurity Levels (SL) with IEC61508 SIL How do we define good practice for Fire and Gas Detector Mapping?

Industrial and Hazardous Areas LED Lighting Technology Lights the Way to Safer Operations Knowledge of Ex, Competency of those involved, and Communication Methods The importance of cable gland IP ratings IIOT Communication and Networking in Hazardous Areas IECEx Hazardous Area certification for non-electrical (mechanical) equipment The importance of layering PPE to protect against Arc Flash Risk-Based DSEAR Assessment of High Flashpoint “Class III” Fuels.

Remote maintenance challenges in industrial applications today & in future Challenges of air conditioning in hazardous areas’

Papers on each day, but not running order

Event & Awards Sponsors

Media Partners

Contact us for 2020 participation information now!

Email: hazardex@imlgroup.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1732 359990 www.hazardex-event.co.uk