Author: mohfarahk

ASME and API Codes and Standards

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ASME and API Codes and Standards, Driving Excellence in Engineering

In the vast landscape of engineering, particularly in the mechanical, chemical discipline and petroleum engineering, compliance to codes and standards is vital. Among the available guidelines, two organizations stand out for their contributions to ensuring safety, reliability, and efficiency in engineering practices: the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Petroleum Institute (API). Let’s see their significance, scope, and impact on various industries.

ASME: Setting the Standard for Mechanical Engineering

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has been a cornerstone of engineering standards since its inception in 1880. ASME codes and standards cover a broad range of disciplines, including pressure vessels, piping systems, boilers, and nuclear components, among others. Among its most renowned codes are those under the B31 series, which deal with piping systems.

ASME B31 Series: This series include multiple codes tailored to different types of piping systems. For instance, ASME B31.1 focuses on power piping, ASME B31.3 addresses process piping, and ASME B31.4 and B31.8 deal with pipeline transportation systems for liquids, gases, and slurries. These codes provide guidelines for design, fabrication, installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of piping systems, ensuring they meet rigorous safety and performance standards.

API: Shaping the Petroleum Industry

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is another prominent standards organization, particularly influential in the oil and gas industry. Founded in 1919, API develops and maintains standards for equipment, systems, and processes involved in petroleum production, refining, transportation, and distribution.

API 510, 570, and 653: These API codes focus on the inspection, repair, alteration, and rerating of pressure vessels, piping systems, and storage tanks in refining, petrochemical, and chemical plants. API 510 covers pressure vessel inspection, API 570 addresses piping inspection, and API 653 deals with the inspection of aboveground storage tanks.

API 5L and API 6A: These standards are vital in the realm of pipeline and wellhead equipment. API 5L specifies the requirements for the manufacture of seamless and welded steel line pipes used for conveying gas, water, and oil in the petroleum and natural gas industries. API 6A, on the other hand, focuses on the specification for wellhead and Christmas tree equipment.

Significance and Impact

Both ASME and API codes and standards play important roles in ensuring the integrity, reliability, and safety of engineering systems across various industries. Compliance with these standards is not just a matter of regulatory requirement but also a commitment to excellence and best practices in engineering.

Adherence to ASME and API standards offers numerous benefits:

  1. Safety Assurance: By adhering to stringent design, fabrication, and inspection guidelines, the risk of accidents, leaks, and failures is minimized, enhancing overall safety in industrial operations.
  2. Reliability and Efficiency: Engineering systems designed and constructed in accordance with established standards are more reliable, leading to reduced downtime, increased operational efficiency, and enhanced productivity.
  3. Regulatory Compliance: Many regulatory bodies mandate compliance with recognized standards such as those developed by ASME and API. Adhering to these standards ensures regulatory compliance, minimizing legal risks and liabilities.
  4. Global Acceptance: ASME and API standards enjoy widespread acceptance globally, facilitating interoperability and trade across international borders.
  5. Innovation and Advancement: These standards serve as foundations for innovation and technological advancement in engineering practices, driving continuous improvement and evolution in the industry.

ASME and API codes and standards serve as guiding beacons for engineers, ensuring the highest levels of safety, reliability, and efficiency in engineering practices. Their contributions to various industries are invaluable, shaping the landscape of engineering excellence and fostering sustainable development worldwide. Adhering to these standards is not just a professional obligation but a testament to a commitment to quality, integrity, and excellence in engineering endeavours.

Acquiring Project Team

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The importance of competent Human resource in project

The accomplishment of a project requires a team effort. Once the activities of the project and required human resource to do the project tasks are determined, the next step would be for the PM to develop a cohesive project team with specific skills. According to PMI, acquiring project team is the process of confirming human resource availability and obtaining the team to complete the project tasks. The cost, schedule, quality and customer satisfaction are directly influenced by the human resources competencies and it is less likely for the project to succeed if project team member does not have specific and required skills. PM may not have direct control over the human resource selection process, yet the role of the PM to negotiate the required skill with those who are in charge of acquiring human resource are critically important. In a Matrix organization, where the human resource to accomplish the project task are scarce, PM may face a big challenge to acquire project team in a timely manner. However, when the organizational structure is project-based, there is no labor union involved and no subcontractor needed to be acquired, the level of the control of the PM is maximum in acquiring process.

When does the acquiring process start?

In some scenarios, human resource acquiring process starts earlier, even before the execution phase of the project by Pre-Assignment. Pre-assignment occurs when a certain type of skill is required for planning or when the presence of a person with a certain skill is planned in Project Charter. Project human resource acquiring process starts when the role and responsibility of the positions, skills, and competencies which project demands, the organizational chart and the number of the people of the project, or in another word, when the Project Management plan is developed.

How to acquire project team?

  • Review Project Human Resource Management Plan (PHRMP)

PHRMP give the PM guideline as to how the human resource should be identified, managed and be released and it is a reliable source of information for PM.

  • Consider the human resource selection criteria

There are certain criteria scoring the project team that PM should consider in the selection process. The level of experience, knowledge and ability, job skills, time zone as well as soft skills of the project team such as communication skills, attitude and the level of interest are examples of criteria which the PM need to investigate and measure when taking a decision.

  • Perform Pre-Assignment

It means the selection of certain team member before the start of the project. In some situation, where implementation of the project is highly influenced by a skill of certain human resource who can develop a technically-more-competitive proposal, some project team members might be recruited in advance.

  • Negotiate with Functional Manager/resource owner

Particularly in Matrix organization when the human resource is shared between several projects, the PM must negotiate the requested human resource with the Functional Manager or generally the resource owner to prevent raising conflict.

  • Acquire alternative human resource

In some situation, the organization is not able to facilitate the PM with the required human resource.  This might be because of the scarcity of the human resource in the desired time or the lack of existence of a human resource with certain skill and expertise in the organization. To cope with, PM might deploy resources from other internal and external organization.

  • Acquire virtual team

The availability of electronic communication such as E-mail, video & audio conferencing, web-based meeting has enabled us to form a group of people as a project team who live in different geographic areas and have a minimum obligation to meet face-to-face. Different people with different culture and expertise work together as a team to achieve project objective while reducing the travel expense and including those people with mobility limitation and disabilities.

  • Create resource calendar

The project may include various team members with different working hours, time zone and planned holidays and involvement in other projects and activity. Development of a resource calendar which clearly explain the availability of the resources, help project team to plan their activity and task in advance and use their time efficiently.

  • Update Project Human Resource Management plan.

Acquiring Human resource is a continuous process in the project. People in the project might leave the organization and new human resources might be recruited in the organization. It is recommended that all changes be documented in the Human Resource Plan as well as Project Management Plan.

Amine Scrubbing

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Removal of CO2 and H2S is one of the processes used in many industrial plants including gas treatment plants, Carbon Capture Plants, refineries, and beverage production plants. It is essential because the Hydrogen Sulphur is corrosive to the equipment and piping, lethal and harmful. CO2 in process gas, when combined with water makes corrosive Carbonic Acid. The CO2 in post-combustion gases, if released to the air increases the concentration of the CO2 and Greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Hence there is increasing demand for removal of the CO2 and H2S in industries.

Amine is well known for its reverse reaction with CO2 and can be used for separation purposes from many forms of Co2 and H2O-containing gases. In fact, there are many techniques for the separation of Carbone Dioxide. However, Amine Absorption is an attractive option for its characteristics.

 The removal process, also called Amine Scrubbing consists of two main processes: Absorption and Stripping Cycles.

In Absorption, the contaminated gas, also called sour gas, containing H2S and CO2 reacts with Lean Amin. Carbon or Sulphur molecules react with Ammonia converting lean Amin to Rich Amine.

 In the stripping process, the Rich Amine goes to the stripping column and released the Carbone dioxide/H2S, and goes back to the absorption column to continue the cycle.

This system, sometimes called Amine sweetening unit, consists of 13 main equipment.

 1- Inlet separator

2- Contactor column or absorption column

3- Flash Tank

4- Filters

5- Stripper Column

6- Reflux Condenser

7- Reflux accumulator

8- Reflux pump

9- Reboiler

10- Lean/Rich Heat exchanger

11- Surg Tank

12- Circulation pump

13- Trim cooler

1-Inlet Separator:  The sour gas enters the inlet separator ready to be discharged to the Contactor Column.

2-Contactor Column or Absorption Column: The Sours Gas enters the Contactor column from the bottom of the vessel rising through the bubble cap on the tray to the topside of the vessel. The liquid Lean Amine enters the topside of the vessel, downward passing through the tray. The vapor and the Sweetened gas are extracted from the top of the contactor and the rich Amin exits the contactor from the bottom of the vessel.

3– Flash Tank: The Contactor column works at elevated pressure. The Rich Amin exiting the contactor goes to the flash tank with lower pressure which caused the gas to flash; like opening a can of cola; the flash tank let the high-pressure Rich Amine depressurize freely while the vapor is separated.

4- Filters: the filters are placed in the Lean/Rich Amin stream to catch the solid particles and contamination. Filtering might also be done on both Lean and Rich side of the column.

10- Lean/Rich Heat Exchanger: Upstream in the flash tank the temperature of the lean amine increases in the lean/rich heat exchanger before it goes to the Stripper/Regeneration Column. A shell and tube heat exchanger with stainless steel tube is usually selected to exchange heat between Lean and Rich Amine – Rich in the tube and Lean on the shell.

5- Stripper Column: The stripper column is usually tray type and works near atmospheric pressure. the heated-Rich Amine enters from the top, further heated by the rising steam – such that the Acid Gas is stripped from the Amine.

6-7-8 Reflux Condenser – Accumulator and pump. The reflux cycle consists of Reflux Condenser, accumulator, and pump aim to condense the fugitive Amine and water from the Acid Gas and return it back to the Stripper Column.  

9- Reboiler: The Lean Amine gets to the bottom of the stripper column goes to the reboiler and comes back to the column ready to strip the Acid Gases from Rich Amine.

10-Lean/Rich Heat Exchanger: The Lean Amin exiting from the stripping column goes the Heat Exchanger; on the shell side; to be cooled and ready to be sued in Contactor Column.

11- Surge Tank: The Lean Amine losing its temperature goes to the Surge tank and is kept to be pumped again to the Contactor Column. Water and Amine are periodically added to the Surge Tank to make up for the losses in the process.

12 -13 Circulation Pumps and Trim Cooler: The cooled amine, passing through the Trim Cooler, is pumped back to the contactor. The lean Amin should be 10-degree C hotter than Sour Gas when entering the contactor column so the temperature is adjusted in the Trim Cooler.

Project Management and Control

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Ready to Keep Your Project On-Track?

Ensure the success of your project from initiation to execution with PEC’s comprehensive support services. At PEC, we understand the importance of planning and effective project control in achieving organizational targets.

  1. Project Planning and Strategy: Tailored project plans aligned with business objectives.
  2. Risk Management: Proactive identification and mitigation of project risks.
  3. Cost Estimation and Control: Accurate budgeting and optimized resource allocation.
  4. Schedule Management: Timely project completion through detailed scheduling.
  5. Quality Assurance and Control: Ensuring project deliverables meet high-quality standards.
  6. Procurement and Supply Chain Management: Strategic sourcing and vendor management.
  7. Stakeholder Engagement: Meaningful collaboration with stakeholders for project alignment.
  8. Health, Safety, and Environmental Management: Prioritizing personnel safety and environmental sustainability.
  9. Project Monitoring and Reporting: Ongoing tracking and transparent reporting of project progress.
  10. Technical Expertise and Support: Specialized engineering solutions across project disciplines.

Why Choose Us?

  • Industry Expertise: Deep understanding of oil and gas industry challenges.
  • Customized Solutions: Tailored services for unique client needs and objectives.
  • Proven Track Record: Demonstrated success in delivering projects on time and within budget.
  • Client-Centric Approach: Prioritizing client satisfaction and building lasting partnerships.

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Piping Design and 3D Modelling

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Transform your project with our top-notch 3D piping design services tailored for the Oil and Gas, Petrochemical, and Process industries. At PEC, we’re committed to bringing your vision to life.

Our services include:

  • Piping Layout and Routing: Designing efficient piping systems for plant facilities.
  • Pipe Material Selection: Recommending suitable materials for pipes.
  • Piping Support Design: Designing stable support structures for pipes.
  • Pipe Size and Specification: Determining appropriate pipe specifications.
  • Pipe Routing Optimization: Optimizing pipe routes for cost and efficiency.
  • Isometric Drawings: Creating detailed drawings for fabrication and installation.
  • Pipe Support Fabrication Drawings: Producing drawings for pipe support fabrication.
  • Piping System Modeling: Creating 3D models for visualization and coordination.
  • As-Built Documentation: Updating accurate documentation of piping systems.

If you’re seeking expert assistance in modelling and piping design for your plant, look no further! Fill out the form below, and I’ll personally reach out to discuss how we can elevate your project to new heights.

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Project Engineering and Construction Management

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From coordinating design, procurement, and construction activities to conducting thorough risk assessments and health & safety audits, we provide tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each project

  1. Coordination of Design, Procurement, and Construction:
    • Description: Align design, procurement, and construction phases for efficient project execution.
  2. Monitoring Site Activities:
    • Description: Track site progress and ensure compliance with safety standards.
  3. Regular Measurement of Project Progress:
    • Description: Measure project milestones and prepare progress reports for informed decision-making.
  4. Preparation and Evaluation of Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS):
    • Description: Identify project risks and ensure safe execution through comprehensive risk assessments.
  5. Comparing Site Installation Against Design Specifications:
    • Description: Verify site installations for compliance with design standards and facilitate prompt resolution of discrepancies.
  6. Conducting Project Health & Safety Audit:
    • Description: Conduct regular audits to enhance safety compliance and mitigate risks.
  7. Preparation of Construction Snag List:
    • Description: Identify and address construction defects promptly to maintain quality standards.
  8. Supervision and Issuance of Test Certificates:
    • Description: Ensure construction quality through supervised testing and issuance of certificates.

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