Utilization of Piping Inspection Data for Continuous Improvement: A Methodology to Visualize Coverage and Finding Rates
Piping inspection in Oil and Gas (O&G) production and process facilities (P&PFs) is traditionally set up by dividing the overall piping components into corrosion loops (CLs) reflecting similar corrosion (i.e. corrosion due to chemical or electro-chemical reaction and/or erosion-corrosion) environment and process conditions. Each CL is comprised of a few or several wall thickness measurement locations (WTMLs). The WTMLs are typically identified for each WTML ‘feature’ (e.g. straight section of a spool, bend, tee, weld, end cap, etc.) in a CL. Generally, inspection planning decisions regarding WTMLs are prioritized based on the results of risk based inspection (RBI) analysis. However, the degradation behavior is continuously changing due to the change in product and process conditions during the maturity of O&G production wells. This manuscript illustrates a methodology to visualize inspection coverage and corresponding defect finding rates (DFRs) for different WTML features in a selected sub-system of an oil and gas production and process facility. The suggested methodology aids the visualization of DFRs pertaining to different WTMLs, enabling inspection planners to assign inspection recommendations to the right location at the right time, minimizing ad hoc work. The approach also enables feedback to be provided to the plant inspection strategy (PIS), depending on the corresponding production field and P&PF, whilst reducing the cost of inspection to the asset owner by the minimization of ad hoc inspection recommendations.