Integrity

engineering

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Technical Integrity Engineering is a term

applied to the engineering disciplines
associated with the design, assurance and
verification functions that ensure a
product, process, or system meets its
appropriate and intended requirements
under stated operating conditions.
Application of these disciplines should not
adversely impact a program, but should in
fact minimize cost, schedule, technical
and legal risks and improve the overall life
cycle cost.

Asset Integrity is a term that relates to the

process that improves operational
reliability, safety and asset protection
whilst at the same time helping to
maximize plant performance and mitigate
the constant challenges and hazards
facing heavy industries such as Oil and
Gas, Power Generation and Nuclear.

It is also considered as the discipline and

profession of acquiring and applying
scientific, mathematical, economic, social,
legal and practical knowledge to the
assurance, and verification functions that
ensure a product, process, or system
meets (and is meeting) its appropriate and
intended safety, legal and business
requirement(s).

In a post-Macondo Prospect (see

(Deepwater Horizon explosion) and Piper
Alpha world, the role of integrity
engineering has been placed under
increased scrutiny. Not only can a well-
managed integrity engineering program
help operators identify and reduce safety
risks before they escalate, but focusing on
asset integrity can also play a major role in
both achieving operational excellence and
extending the life of ageing assets.[1]

Typical responsibilities for an Integrity

Engineer would be, to coordinate efficient
and cost-effective implementation of
inspections and integrity management
programs and to ensure integrity of plant
facilities including all onshore and
offshore structures, pipelines, stationary
equipment, piping systems, etc.
In the scope of Integrity Management it is
essential that this role is independent so
that unbiased and forthright decisions are
made to ensure that equipment is
designed, maintained, operated and
decommissioned in a responsible manner
which complies with industry’s best
practices.

Integrity Engineers may be required to

manage, develop, or conduct the following:
A high level integrity management
philosophy which includes verification
and assurance of facilities (Basic repair
methods and strategies, Static
equipment repair and temporary repairs,
Fabric maintenance, Corrosion
Engineering, Inspection Engineering,
Chemical management and
Maintenance management).
A Competency Management scheme.
An RBI analysis.
Integrity processes. i.e. Write Risk Based
Inspection methodologies, Temporary
Repair methodologies, Maintenance
Strategies, Mechanical Integrity
Management Strategy (MIMS),
Structural Integrity Management
Strategy (SIMS), Pipeline Integrity
Management Strategy (PIMS), Well
Integrity Management System (WIMS)
and create corrosion circuits for the
plant process.
Verification Schemes and performance
Standards management
Conduct Life extension studies.
A Fitness-for-service review.
Write and review Integrity Management
Plans
Identify, investigate and assess
deterioration/corrosion and ensure
timely maintenance of the affected
facilities.
Implement Inspection and Corrosion
Control Policy and Risk Based
Inspection (RBI) methods to manage
integrity, and optimize inspections
frequency, maintenance cost and plant
availability.
Lead and conduct RBI reviews
Participate in preparation of Capital and
Operating budgets for Inspection.
Monitor and oversee the execution of
inspection programs and activities.
Liaise closely with Operations, Technical
Services, Corrosion engineering,
Inspection Engineering, Verification
Engineering, Process/Chemical and
Mechanical Engineering and other
Maintenance Units to coordinate major
shutdowns and turn-around activities.
Supervise, witness and participate in
certification process of hydro tests and
load test of lifting devices and cylinders
Ensure systematic and consistent
implementation of work methods and
procedures used in Maintenance and
Inspection and recommend
improvements.
Ensure systematic update of
maintenance management systems.
Participate in technical studies, Process
and Instrument diagram reviews, Safety
Integrity Level (SIL) assessments and
HAZOP's.
Lead in failure investigations
Input and control of asset integrity
management software
Integrity Engineering encompasses the
concept of:

Organize, review, analyze, improve and

control cycle  
Consistency of actions, values,
methods, measures, principles,
expectations, and outcomes.
An undivided or unbroken completeness
or totality with nothing wanting
Knowledge of many interfaces of
technology
 Balancing and countering the materials
degradation process during the in-
service life cycle of equipment.
Ensuring the recommended risk
mitigation actions derived from the RBI
study are implemented;
Ensuring inspection intervals are not
exceeded;
Ensuring resources are available for RBI
Assessments;

This may be applied to management,

machines, devices, systems, materials and
processes that safely realize
improvements to the lives of assets.

The Integrity Engineer (IE) may also be

involved with other asset life-cycle issues
such as basis of design (Process design
basis) through to recycle. During the Front
End Engineering Design stage (i.e. FEED)
aids in the selection of vessels, piping,
pipelines and other equipment. At this
FEED stage, the optimum material
requirements, mitigation and maintenance
requirements for the intended period of
operation become the basis for the
detailed engineering. It is the role of the IE
to develop/validate the integrity
management plan and implement the
monitoring and management procedure
for the intended period of operation. It may
also be the responsibility of the integrity
engineer to incorporate and manage any
variation identified (metal loss, material
degradation, cracking mechanisms,
mitigation issues i.e. CP potentials,
coating failures etc.) during the monitoring
regime.

It may be generalist in nature and or

applied with specific prior knowledge
denoted using a pre-nominal of
Mechanical, Inspection, Asset, Well or Well
head, Technical, Pipeline, Signal,
Fabrication or Commissioning depending
upon the equipment or system under
scrutiny.
Integrity Engineers construct and
implement Integrity Management plans
which detail the requirements of the item
or asset under scrutiny and study any
adverse effects from internal and or
external sources which damage / impair
that item or system. These are used to
build suitable inspection and condition
monitoring forward strategies. The
monitoring may include both physical
(pipes / vessels) and nonphysical systems
(Management legal obligations). This
diversity will depend upon the
requirements of the task at hand.

Integrity Engineers also oversee or carry

out Integrity Engineering Audit(s) to ensure
legal compliance with company, national
and international standards and ensure
that there is a level of quality assurance
within the process that meets good
engineering standards.

External links
 Oil and Gas Fundamentals The
Fundamentals of Asset Integrity
Asset Integrity Engineering training
Integrity Engineering training
NACE Training Course - Pipeline
Corrosion Integrity Management
Pipeline Corrosion Integrity

References
1. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved
2012-04-03.
1. Integrity Of Engineering Components
Journal Sadhana Publisher Springer
India, in co-publication with Indian
Academy of Sciences ISSN 0256-
2499 (Print) 0973-7677 (Online) Issue
Volume 20, Number 1 / February,
1995
2. NASA and Engineering Integrity
Michael D. Griffin Administrator
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Wernher von Braun
Memorial Symposium American
 Astronautical Society 21 October
2008
3. Implementation of Asset Integrity
Management System Muhammad
Abduh PetroEnergy Magazine April –
May 2008 Edition
http://abduh137.wordpress.com/200
8/05/04/aims/
4. API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 584
Integrity Operating Windows FIRST
EDITION, MAY 2014
 5. Pressure Equipment Integrity Incident
Investigation API RECOMMENDED
PRACTICE 585 FIRST EDITION, APRIL
2014
. Process Integrity in Engineering and
Manufacturing [Kindle Edition] Jim
Williams (Author) Published on
Amazon.com

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