Hydrogen Embrittlement (HE) is an insidious form of degradation that can strike during equipment fabrication, cleaning, repairs or while in-service. It stems from the infusion of atomic hydrogen into some higher strength steels that then leads to embrittlement, cracking or catastrophic brittle fracture.

This article appears in the November/December 2003 issue of Inspectioneering Journal

Risk Based Integrity Management (RBIM) is the latest process for developing strategies to properly operate and maintain a manufacturing or production facility in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Industry (OG&P). RBIM is a significant change from previous processes that drive the industry into specific directions for managing risk. Many of these embraced processes have had significant influence in how managers make decisions regarding their businesses. A few of the common processes that are still viable include; Process Safety Management, Safety Case, Reliability Centered Maintenance, Green Initiatives, Lean Manufacturing, Responsible Care, Risk-based Inspection, Total Productive Maintenance, Pace Setter Performer, and a few other rating criteria.

This article appears in the March/April 2012 issue of Inspectioneering Journal

Schaeffler has launched a new ultra-compact online condition monitoring device for industrial plant and machinery. This unique system not only monitors vibration and temperature, but also a range of other machine and process-specific parameters, such as pressure and flow rate. The device can also be used as a machine condition guard with safety switch-off.

A new software program known as orKsof and just launched by Amethyste provides an integrated platform for asset integrity management and risk-based management. Having performed a proof of concept, the company will shortly start a pilot project with one client which could lead to the program being brought into use on a country-wide basis.

The following table lists unplanned and planned production outages at U.S. refineries as reported by Dow Jones Newswires. The information is compiled from both official and unofficial refining sources and doesn\'t purport to be a comprehensive list.

Pressure from a failed drip vessel started a fire which in turn caused the April 30 explosion at a natural gas plant southeast of Canadian, said Todd Johnson, Eagle Rock Energy Partners vice president of environmental health and safety.

Good news for the flow measurement and control industry with the March announcement by Chevron that they will spend an estimated $83 million to modify their Salt Lake City facilities. This comes on the heels of the Tesoro Corp. and HollyFrontier releases from Utah earlier this year reporting plans to modernize process equipment.