Safety Alert
Catastrophic rupture of dead-leg pipe-work
Catastrophic rupture of dead-leg pipe-work
- HSE
- Safety Alert
- CEMHD2-2019
- CorrosionPressure SystemsStructural and Asset Integrity
- CorrosionHydrocarbon releaseLoss of containmentPressure systemsStructural and asset integrity
- Inspection and maintenance
- Process pipework and pipelines
- Non-destructive testingRisk assessment
- Downstream and process industries
Summary
This safety alert examines refinery pipework ruptures associated with highly localised internal corrosion in dead-legs. It explains how routine thickness checks missed deterioration and outlines inspection expectations, including risk assessment, wider wall-thickness testing and timely replacement. Operators should consider removing non-essential dead-legs and account for thermal gradients, liquid interfaces and condensation.
Classifications: Corrosion; corrosion damage.
Classifications: Hydrocarbon release; hydrocarbon leak; oil and gas release.
Classifications: Loss of containment; containment loss.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Structural and asset integrity; asset integrity; structural integrity.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Process pipework and pipelines; process piping.
Classifications: Non-destructive testing; NDT; non-destructive examination; NDE.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Downstream and process industries; refining; petrochemicals.
Summary
Safety alert concerning catastrophic rupture risks in dead-leg pipework.
CEMHD2-2019. Themes: corrosion, pressure systems, structural and asset integrity.