Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has been operating Paradip-Haldia-Barauni crude oil pipeline (PHBPL) to meet the requirement of its refineries in Eastern / North-Eastern part of India. A new 30” OD crude oil pipeline is being laid from Haldia to Barauni. Upon commissioning of 30″ OD crude oil pipeline, the existing 18” OD pipeline in Haldia-Barauni mainline section of PHBPL will be converted to product service.
IOCL has entrusted iFluids Engineering to conduct the risk assessment HAZOP – HAZard and OPerability study prior to the commissioning of the pipeline and conversion to product service. The main objective of the HAZOP study is to identify and evaluate the potential hazards involved during design and operation, which may pose a risk to personnel/equipment/operation systematically during the conversion of 18” Haldia Barauni section of PHBPL to product service. The essentiality of this HAZOP study is mainly to enhance the safety of the facilities. Furthermore, to scrutinize the possible failures during design stage.
The methodology undertaken by iFluids Engineer to carry out the HAZOP Study is as follows,
- As a first step, the project scope is segregated into Nodes.
- Each node is then carefully analyzed for each parameter along with the guidewords. This step involves the brainstorming Workshop of “What if” something goes wrong in the process or if there is a deviation from the design intent of the process.
- Further, recommendations are given based on the available controls to keep safety in check.
- Lastly, a routine follow-up on the previous step, which is implementation of the recommendations, to examine whether the objective of this study is met. In general, this final step is just as important as the rest for the completion of the HAZOP study.