Since 2007, a key user of DNV Software’s Safeti in mainland China has been Huan Qiu Contracting & Engineering Corporation (HQCEC), an international engineering corporation directly administered by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

HQCEC is a leading company with EPC capability, integrating services including engineering, procurement, construction management and commissioning supervision.

Since 1998, HQCEC has ranked among the top 225 international contractors and top 200 international design firms on a list published by the Engineering News Record for six successive years. HQCEC remains the only Chinese company to enjoy both honours simultaneously.

In March 2009, DNV Software delivered on-site training for HQCEC on application of Phast Risk within QRA in Beijing. Dr David Worthington from DNV Software trained 25 engineers from HQCEC for five days. HQCEC uses Phast Risk and Leak on process design, safety assessment and environmental effect analysis.

The course provides an overview of the risk management process from hazard identification through to cost benefit analysis, with hands-on exercises using Phast Risk and Leak where appropriate. The course also provides basic introductions to HAZOP and Fault Tree analysis and how they may relate to QRA.

Worked examples were provided and time was made available to discuss customer-specific problems. For HQCEC, this included analysis of the risks on an LNG plant and how best to model potential explosions.

• When assessing the risks to people indoors and outdoors from explosions due to accidental releases of flammable material, it is necessary to predict the: Extent and movement of the vapour cloud and its interaction with areas of congested obstructions
• Probability of ignition
• Overpressures generated if the cloud is ignited while moving through a region of congested obstructions
• Effects of the overpressure and impulse on people in the vicinity of the explosion, inside or outside various types of building.

The calculations’ sequence in time is discharge, dispersion, ignition, explosion, damage and lethality. This particular course was delivered with Phast 6.54 which uses the Weikema Damage Zone model. Major improvements are in the pipeline with version 6.6 of Phast Risk; they will be very relevant to the analysis of LNG facilities. These improvements make use of the Multi-Energy model or the Baker Strehlow Tang model for the explosion strength and a selection of vulnerability models to calculate lethality or escalation.

HQCEC engineer Shu Xiao Qin praises the course. “We found this training useful,” he says. “We learned a lot about the logic behind the software system, which is very beneficial.”

Says Kevin Sun, DNV Software country manager for Greater China: “We treasure those customers in China, such as HQCEC, who are determined to achieve international recognition. We will serve them with our advanced tools and give them full support to achieve Best Engineering Practice in their design work.”

This course complements the standard product training and advanced modules by providing an overview of how all the elements of QRA fit together and how to apply the tools to real and relevant problems.