Software tools using Risk Based Inspection (RBI) techniques to help develop and improve inspection management programmes.
What is Risk Based Inspection?
Risk Based Inspection (RBI) is a combination of technologies providing industries with a risk-based method for evaluating and developing inspection plans. RBI works by calculating both the consequences of possible failures and the likelihood of those failures. The combination of consequences and likelihood identifies which equipment warrants the most attention for managing risk.
Why use Risk Based Inspection?
As plants become older, maintenance requirements can become considerable. With operators wanting to improve safety and achieve optimum plant reliability and availability, investment in maintenance can be a substantial entry on the balance sheet. To reduce this overhead there is clearly a need to have a systematic and cost-effective inspection programme. By focusing inspection efforts on high-risk areas, much low-value work can be eliminated.
Using Software for Risk Based Inspection
Given the vast amount of data required during Risk Based Inspection the use of software has a key role to play. DNV Software currently has versions of Orbit customised for use in the Onshore process and petrochemical industries and the Offshore oil and gas industry.
Orbit Onshore
This tool performs a detailed assessment of a process plant. It predicts the failure for a variety of damage mechanisms and models the consequences of those failures. The results of the risk assessment can subsequently be used to prioritise the inspection of high risk items.
Orbit Topside
This tool uses similar Risk-Based Inspection methodology, consequence modelling and likelihood calculations to Orbit Onshore but it is adapted for offshore installations.
Orbit Launcher
Based on Orbit Onshore, this an entry level tool performs a simplified risk assessment, based on a limited set of data and expert knowledge. Results are used to identify high risk equipment items on which inspection should focus or on which a more detailed quantitative RBI study may be justified.
Orbit Inspector
A comprehensive inspection optimisation software tool for the maintenance and operation of offshore drilling and production facilities.