Current trends and challenges in

implementing an effective RBI program

Session 6

RBI Task if required

Peter Nutty
Asset Integrity Management
Subject Matter Expert
Technut Limited

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 Group Discussion – RBI of pressure vessel

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 Group Discussion – RBI of pressure vessel

The atmospheric crude distillation unit (CDU) is the first processing unit in a refinery downstream of the
desalter. The unit is a complex column that fractionates crude oil into the basic product streams. These basic
product streams from the crude distillation unit can vary widely depending on the refinery operating
objectives.

Typical boiling point cuts from the atmospheric crude unit include: naphtha, kerosene, diesel, gas oil, heavy gas
oil, and residue, which is fed to the vacuum crude unit for further distillation and separation under vacuum.
Normally, these product streams are sent to downstream units for further processing before being sent to
product tanks

The crude oil is sent through a process heater and is partially vaporized before entering the fractionator near
the bottom of the column.

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 RBI of pressure vessel

• Stripping steam also is injected at the

bottom of the column. One or more
process pump-around heat exchanger loops
and a top reflux stream are used to cool the
rising vapours, which separates the crude
mixture into product streams

• Product streams are extracted through side

draws to the steam stripping columns.

• The column pressure and product draw

temperatures are used to control the
product streams to quality specifications,
usually to the final or 95% of the boiling
point for the product stream

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RBI of pressure vessel

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Each section of the vessel is assessed – why?

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Likewise, each section has different consequences – why?

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Brainstorming session
• Where do we start? Think about the end-to-end process,
the fluids, pressure, temperatures, material(s) and what is
going on inside and outside the vessel
• What resources do we need?
• What documents do we need for the assessment?
• What are the boundaries of the assessment?
• What type(s) of risk assessment could we undertake?
• What is our acceptable risk and where does it come from?
• What type(s) of mitigation could we expect to be
implemented?
• Could we use NII or robotics?

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