HAZOP - HAZARD & OPERABILITY STUDY

VAI ALLA VERSIONE IN ITALIANO

SCENARIO

Most industrial licensing authorities and insurance companies require operating companies to carry out hazard studies and risk assessments during a facility design, as well as prior to construction and during operation.
The authorities require that the hazard studies be recorded and acted-upon, and that they be subject to management audit and approval.

SOLUTION

What is HAZOP?
HAZOP study is well-proven structured team-based method for hazard identification at process design completion or for planned modifications. The technique makes detailed examination of the process and engineering intention of new or existing facilities to assess the hazard potential of operation outside the design intention, or malfunction of individual items of equipment and their consequential effects on the facility as a whole.
HAZOP is led by an experienced facilitator. For an Oil & Gas project, a core team would typically include personnel from Process, Instruments, Machines, Project Engineering, and Operations, and it might require the involvement of process technologists, environmental specialists and corporate Health & Safety and Environment (HSE) staff for some parts of the work.

Bureau Veritas believes that hazard study is an integral part of the design of oil & gas facilities.
Bureau Veritas offers hazard study leadership services across all phases of plant design, from feasibility and FEED, to detailed design, and to construction and commissioning.
Bureau Veritas often takes full responsibility for HAZOP study recording and reporting, so that administrative burdens on designer and client personnel are minimized.
Bureau Veritas also offers attendance at designer/ client project meetings, so that an overview of all HSE issues is available at the meetings, and so that timely advice can be sourced when
specialist hazard information may be needed.

FAQ

What are the key benefits?
Comprehensive hazard identification is the cornerstone of effective risk management since if a hazard has not been identified then measures cannot be put in place to mitigate the risk. A hazard that has been overlooked can have a significant impact on the overall success of the venture. An effective HAZOP provides the most penetrating design review, covering safety, environment, operations, and maintenance.
HAZOP ensures that:
■ Potential deviations from intended design function are identified and corrected
■ HSE process and equipment hazards are revealed; Actions for necessary process or instrumentation improvements can be planned
■ Action responses are auditable by Managements and Legislative Inspectorates.

How long does a HAZOP study take?
For the installation of an oil & gas unit on an existing site, each P&ID (piping & instrumentation diagram) might take 2 or 3 hours to study.
For the installation of a major new unit on an existing refinery or of the topsides on an offshore platform, 6 to 8 weeks may be required.

Can you advise us what types of hazard study and risk assessment are required for our project and our location?
Yes, we can advise on legislative requirements, legislative changes, and good practice compliance in most parts of the world.