Young Engineers’ Programme 2020 – 12th November

Case Study Presentation – Update Bulletin 2

Introduction

This bulletin presents updating information regarding the case study presentation evening, Thursday 12th of November 2020.  for the benefit of all participants in the evening.

The format

The Young Engineers are currently working in 7 teams on the case study. On the evening of 12th November each team will be asked present their findings from the case study. The teams will need to demonstrate team work however the mechanism of delivery is up to each team and their mentors.

Each team will be held in the lobby and will be called forward to present one team at a time the remaining teams will remain in the lobby and will not be able to hear the preceding team’s presentation. Each presentation will start at the allocated time. The presentation is expected to last for 20 minutes. There is then five minutes for questions. The team will step down when the Chair closes that part of the session (at 25 minutes), that team can then remain in the meeting with video and audio muted to listen to all subsequent deliveries.

Following the completion of all presentations there will then be a break while the judges confer and decide on the winning team. The winning team will be announced at the end of the evening, congratulations and commiserations given by the Chair and the meeting will be closed.

Preparation for the meeting

Each team is requested to complete preparation of their presentation some days in advance.  Please send your presentation by either email or a file transfer service such as WeTransfer to david.mobbs@c-i-m.co.uk by midday on Wednesday 11th November. This is for security proposes in the event of an IT failure. Please note that all presentations are to be delivered in the manual mode, please do not use the automation feature in PowerPoint.

The meeting officials

Chair: Trevor Osborne
Timer:  Alan Denny
Q&A:  Anthony Setiadi

Timings

Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and all participants should attempt to get online as close to 4:30 as possible. The timetable of the meeting is as follows (all p.m.): –

time Activity Note Presenter
4:30 Meeting opens online for registration N.A.
4:45 Welcome, introduction and roll call Trevor Osborne
5:00 Presentation Mentor: Andrew Sturgeon Team 1
5:30 Presentation Mentor: Chris Googan Team 2
6:00 Presentation Mentor: Charlie Barraclough Team 3
6:30 Presentation Mentor: Tasos Kostrivas Team 4
7:00 Presentation Mentor: Dave Shaw Team 5
7:30 Presentation Mentor: Rob Doggett Team 6
8:00 Presentation Mentor: John Davies Team 7
8:30- 8:50 Break Judges will be in session
8:50 Judging summary and award TBC
9:15 Meeting close

The platform and facilitation

For simplicity the platform used will be ‘Teams’ (we have decided against using ‘Teams Live’ due to lack of familiarity).

The main audience will be able to see the entire event.

Do you have any Questions on the event?

If you have questions on the event and the evening please send them, in the first event, to david.mobbs@c-i-m.co.uk and they will be answered by the organising team either by email or in a subsequent Bulletin.

Download Institute of Corrosion YEP Case Study: Onshore Titanium Pipe Corrosion Failure

Microsoft Teams Meeting

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Ask the Expert

The questions this issue relate to the maintenance and servicing of corrosion monitoring devices for pipelines and process pipework, and conflicts between coating specifications and the product data sheet requirements.

Question:
In a previous issue (editor, March/April 2020) the question of the selection of suitable equipment for effective corrosion/erosion monitoring in process plants and pipelines operating across a wide range of temperatures and pressures, was discussed.

In order to be in contact with the process fluids to test them, devices such as coupons (normally of same material as the pipe), electrical resistance probes, bio probes, chemical injection quills, galvanic probes and other sampling equipment are inserted through proprietary access fittings, either flanged or welded connections.

Can you explain how these devices are maintained, and serviced, in a safe and cost-effective manner? What precautions should be taken before engaging a vendor to perform this work, and what preparations are required at the worksite? AB

Answer:
This type of monitoring equipment is manufactured in many countries by a wide range of vendors (in varying degrees of quality and equipment monitoring sensitivity), therefore carefully review, all associated QA documentation, materials of construction, test certification and installation procedures.

Great care should be taken in the selection and purchase of such intrusive equipment to check that it complies with all relevant standards such as NACE MR0175 requirements (Parts 1/2/3 – Cracking resistance of materials) and NACE MR0103 (specifically for sour service in refineries).

An intrusive monitoring, and associated servicing, system normally comprises of 5 main components – high pressure (HP) online retrieval tool, a HP double block and bleed service / safety valve, a mechanical or hydraulic access fitting system (permanently connected to outside of the pipe/pipeline or pressure vessel), the internal monitoring device holder (with seals for primary pressure isolation) and the device itself that is to be serviced, such as a test coupon. In addition, a heavy-duty cap provides secondary pressure sealing/containment in normal operation, after the tool has been removed for service.

It should be noted that these monitoring devices form part of a pressurised system for process containment, and the regular corrosion risk assessment data obtained from them contributes to determining how frequently the remaining piping circuit (which can be of considerable length) requires to be monitored by full inspection and other NDT – non-destructive testing methods such as ultrasonic or radiography. The data from these devices (often now transmitted wirelessly), also influences other mitigation measures such as control of water content and chemical injection, with adjustments made to chemical dosing according to the corrosion rate measured on the test device, to within agreed targets / KPI’s – Key Performance Indicators. Further, these devices also monitor problematic contaminants such as bacteria (through sessile swabs taken at device retrieval) that can accumulate in the system, especially when the system is put out of service for any significant period of time without pre-treatment (e.g. biocide addition).

Removal of these in-service devices should only be undertaken by competent/trained personnel, due to the risks of injury and potential loss of process containment, if not performed in accordance with established practices for safe retrieval. All such measuring equipment would normally be pressure tested and checked as being in good condition prior to shipping to site, this being independently witnessed as compliant with agreed pressure test procedures. Every test fitting at the workplace will have its own unique ID (Tag. No.) and set of risks, therefore as well as utilising the relevant fitting retrieval procedure (either for online or offline servicing) a task risk assessment must be performed to identify all hazards (and required mitigations), specific to the retrieval/service location. For example, the device may be located at height and require scaffold erection for the service team (normally 2 people), or the fitting maybe located to the underside of the pipework (6 o’clock position), in which case, there may be risks of fitting/thread blockages from internal debris or spillage of fluids at device removal (when environmental precautions will be required), especially if it has not been serviced regularly. It is also not recommended to perform the 1st service of any such equipment on a live / online basis.

Before the start of any work, it is necessary to consult with the facility’s owner/client who should have maintained an access fittings register (with the vendor’s assistance), of the operating and service history of each Corrosion Monitoring fitting installed on the facility. Generally speaking, a good and frequent service history will allow regular safe in-service/live retrieval and maintenance activities to be performed, and these previous operations will have already identified the risks and should such information not be forthcoming, or is lacking in detail, then only offline/non-live retrieval should be performed (with hand tools), by persons competent to do so.

It is strongly recommended that reference should be made to the new Energy Institute (EI) Guidelines 1st Edition, for the management of access fittings for pressurised systems, published in August 2020.1

This document covers the lifecycle from the design, application, registration and safe handling of the different types of fittings through to abandonment/removal. The types of degradation which can be expected are defined, as well as methods of monitoring and the maintenance required. For more general guidance on effective corrosion control and prevention, the EI Guidance for corrosion management in oil and gas production and processing, 2nd edition should also be consulted.2
Primary pressure retention/process containment is of the utmost importance to all operators for reasons of personnel safety and good control of environmental and business risks. ST
1) https://publishing.energyinst.org/topics/asset-integrity/guidelines-
 for-the-management-of-access-fittings-for-pressurised-systems
2) https://publishing.energyinst.org/topics/asset-integrity/corrosion/
 guidance-for-corrosion-management-in-oil-and-gas-production-and-
 processing

Question:
How should a conflict between the requirements, such as for film thickness, in a product data sheet, and the specification, be resolved? JS

Answer:
The fast and easy answer is that the detailed requirements (specification) will always take priority over the general. With this I mean, the specification is specific or unique for a project or a certain application, and this would supersede the more general content of a Product Data Sheet (PDS).

A typical PDS in the paint industry consists of:

  • Description and recommended use
    Recommendations on pre-treatment
    Guidelines on application, methods, thinning, mixing, film thickness, 
 overcoating intervals etc.
    Physical data for the product, drying time, solid content, colour(s), 
 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), specific gravity etc.

Some PDSs are more detailed than others ranging from one to up to ten pages. A well written PDS presents the framework for the product so that the optimum required product can be chosen and application process be decided upon.

The specification requirements should always be based within the parameters of the PDS framework. If there are deviations from this framework this indicates that the requirements may not be met by the product as it will be used for something which it was not designed to be used for, risking a poor result or at the very least some difficulties in application.
In other words, the specification should always be built within the parameters, directly or indirectly, outlined in the PDS and that is normally how the majority of specifications are developed. But a few do stray outside the framework, some for sound reasons and some for less so.

When data for a PDS is processed it is an integral part of product development. Before a product is released from the R&D lab it will have passed stringent testing and trials to make sure that it meets the product profile, both with regard to performance as a coating and with regard to application properties. The resulting data including the tolerance is recorded into the PDS. Normally these data and tolerances are on what can be considered the conservative or careful side.

Developing or building specifications can be for both a broad range of applications or be more for specific or customised use. The latter is often dealt with by a specialist who can evaluate the solution needed, and design the specification accordingly. For this category it is not uncommon to see deviations from the guiding data in the PDS.

Looking more specifically at deviation from the recommended film thickness as mentioned in the question, how can that be a sound specification? If we assume that the specifier has good insight into the application conditions, (for example they may know that the spraying is undertaken in an automated installation and the control of overthickness is strong) then here there is room for extending the thickness range upwards as the tolerance does not need to be able to absorb the extra thickness that can be expected from manual application.
Similarly, if drying times are considered, the specifier will know if the ventilation is very efficient and there is strong temperature control, meaning matters such as over coating intervals and dry to handle times may be shorter than indicated in the PDS. This can also be applied in reverse of course, if the conditions are poor the times in the specification may be increased.

Simply put there may be good reasons for deviating, but they should always be defendable if challenged and they should be expected to be very close to the values stated in the PDS. Deviations wildly off should not be accepted as they, in principle, constitute a set of questionable data in either document.

As specifications are normally the result of serious work, they should have priority over the product data sheet.

Niels Lund Jensen (Subject Matter Expert, Hempel A/S)

The ICAA – The New Way to Get Your CSCS Card

The ICAA – The New Way to Get Your CSCS Card

A Modern Apprenticeship in Action

The ICAA (Industrial Coatings Applicator Apprenticeship) has kicked off in style. All seven apprentices who completed the first ever industrial coatings apprenticeship now get their CSCS card. In fact, the 18-month programme proved so successful that Jack Tighe Ltd. are running a second apprenticeship programme which started in October 2019 – just two months after the first completed.

This second cohort of apprentices are on course to complete in April 2021 – and signs are that they will be equally as successful as the first cohort. A third cohort is starting in October 2020, and due to complete 18 months later. (Read more about Jack Tighe’s apprenticeship programmes here.)

We’ve spoken to senior management at John Tighe to get their views on the success of the ICAA. In this article, you’ll learn why the CSCS card is so valuable, and we look at how Jack Tighe selected its candidates and structured its apprenticeship.

(Watch the video on YouTube: ‘The process behind the first ever Industrial Coating Applicator Apprenticeship’.)

What is the CSCS card?

For anyone wanting a career in construction-related occupations, holding a CSCS card is fast becoming an industry standard. Most employers and principal contractors now require you to have one before commencing work.

With a CSCS card, you will:

  • Be more employable, with your employer knowing that you are qualified, skilled, and have the right health and safety knowledge.
  • Be recognised for your skillset. The CSCS card is proof that you have earned your skills and have experience.
  • Have more opportunities. Not all employers and contracting firms will hire workers without a CSCS card. As a CSCS card holder, your options for employment in your field are unlimited.
  • Boost your reputation, providing proof of your expertise and commitment to safety in your work.

There are approximately 2.5 million people who work in the construction industry in the UK. Of these, only around 1.5 million hold a CSCS card. Plus the apprentices who passed the ICAA, who now join the UK’s skilled workforce through the CSCS scheme and thanks to their apprenticeship success.

Structuring the ICAA for outstanding results

The management at Jack Tighe Ltd. had decided on an apprenticeship strategy to combat the ageing workforce in the industry and at Jack Tighe.

We have a very mature workforce, and we need to start replacing that workforce,” said Training Manager John Whittaker. “What better way to introduce young people, while we still have that mature workforce… through the apprenticeship scheme we let our apprentices grow through the mature and experienced workforce we have – before retirement starts taking over.

The Industrial Coatings Applicator Apprenticeship scheme gives younger people the opportunity to earn a good wage and develop a career and a long-term future. To achieve the goals of Jack Tighe and the potential for apprentices on the programme, it was important to structure it correctly.

This process started with choosing a college to partner with. The next step was selecting the apprentices. There was an interview process carried out with North Lindsey College, from which the seven apprentices were hired.

During their apprenticeship, the apprentices worked in blocks of up to six weeks. Projects included working on contracts for the MOD (Ministry of Defence), Network Rail, and hydro-electric dams for SSE. Thus, the apprentices gained a broad experience across several industries.

Their work often meant travelling, with their travel and accommodation allowances paid for by Jack Tighe. As much of their work involves travelling, the apprentices were encouraged to get driving licences, and Jack Tighe gave each who passed their driving test £200.

A life-changing journey

The benefits of running the ICAA are clear for Jack Tighe. It has allowed the company to execute a strategy toward reducing the average age of its workforce and develop skilled and qualified employees aligned to its company’s culture and vision, and with a view to creating career paths for young people.

To its initial seven apprentices, the ICAA has given not only a life-changing experience, but also a chance to access a career that they may never have had otherwise.

One of the apprentices, Jason Simpson, said, “I saw the apprenticeship shared on Facebook. This is a massive opportunity for a lad from Grimsby. You don’t just get an opportunity like this every day.

To be paid a decent wage and have a career – not just a job, a career – is fantastic. Opportunity all over the country from Inverness to the Isle of Wight, Cardiff to Norwich. Even stuff abroad.

I get very excited working on landmarks. I go home on a Friday and tell the missus that I’ve been painting Wembley. It’s a bit better than being stuck in a fish factory.

I’m doing something that makes a difference. I can tell my mates I had been painting an aircraft carrier in Portsmouth.

Sam Panter, Health and Safety Manager at Jack Tighe, said, “It’s been great to see a group of apprentices with a different age range given a good chance from a younger age to forge a career within our industry. 

Also, some of the older apprentices have been given a second chance to start a career. To see their journey from day one to this point now, where they are at the end of their apprenticeship journey, has been great to see.

Successful completion of this apprenticeship gives the apprentice the opportunity to develop a career within the industry. They can become sprayers, blasters, and can specialise in related disciplines. Some may decide to advance their career by training as coating inspectors. Further along their career path, possibilities might include qualifying as passive fire protection inspectors.

From early in their career, ICAA apprentices will be able to work anywhere in the UK and overseas within the industry (perhaps even one day in the future, on the rusting Moon!).

ICAA – Helping to secure the future

Apprenticeship programmes are not the answer to all hiring and staffing problems. However, as Jack Tighe has discovered, as part of a blended employment strategy, it makes a hugely positive impact.

I think it goes some way to securing our future, and obviously securing our particular job roles in the future,” said John Whittaker. A future they are planning to double up on, by running another ICCA programme from October 2020 – this time, for 10 apprentices.

Let’s leave the last word to one of the successful apprentices from the 2019/20 ICAA at Jack Tighe.  Interviewed by North Lindsey College, 25-year-old Jack Roddy said, “I would recommend doing this apprenticeship as you get to travel a lot and the pay is very appealing. I’m over the moon that I have now been employed by Jack Tighe.

Whether you are an employer considering your workforce and business strategy, or a youngster considering your career options, to learn more about the ICAA, email the admin team at the Institute of Corrosion.

Fellow’s Corner

Fellow’s Corner

The latest article from ICorr Fellows who have made a significant contribution in the field of corrosion control is by Dr Sadegh Parvisi, Senior Principal Materials Engineer, McDermott, who describes the role of a Corrosion, Materials and Metallurgy Engineer. With some decades of professional engineering experience in engineering companies, operations and R&D, the author now shares this experience with fellow workers in ICorr.

The role of the Corrosion, Materials and Metallurgy Engineer in the integrity of Oil and Gas projects

This brief article is intended to highlight some strategic ideas to enhance the interaction of the Corrosion, Materials and Metallurgical (CMM) discipline with other fields, to improve the integrity of a project and enhance the reliability of the plants. It also aims to show the workflow, and identify the mechanism of interaction between all the disciplines engaged in the execution of a project.

Why CMM ?
Today’s corrosion engineers cannot produce meaningful and reliable outputs without having a proper relevant knowledge of Materials and Metallurgy. For instance, for a corrosion engineer it is not sufficient to only know the electrochemical processes well, but it would also be necessary for him/her to have a clear idea of the difference between PVC and CPVC. The CMM engineer should also understand, for example, the role of molybdenum on pitting and crevice corrosion of stainless steels, and to assess that even if this is not an issue, it is still vital to be aware of the huge cost impact of selecting between SS304 and SS316 steels in a LNG project. Hence this being considered as a single discipline which is named CMM.

Why is this subject important?
Consistency between the engineering project specification documents has a significant effect in the integrity of a project. This consistency cannot be achieved unless a dynamic interaction is built between the engineering disciplines. Quite often, it has been experienced that the final version 
of the Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) is not compatible with the material selection specification or report. Piping classes specifying the material of construction’s corrosion allowance divert from the 
as-built P&IDs etc. The root cause of these discrepancies lies in the lack of 
proper communication between relevant engineers, in particular in the CMM discipline.

Phases of Project
Any project can go through different phases before it reaches a ‘live’ production. For example:

  • Conceptual
    FEED
    Detailed Engineering
    Procurement
    Fabrication & Inspection
    Installation
    Pre-commissioning
    Commissioning
    Trial Period
    Operation
    Maintenance
    Mothballing
    Extension/Revamping
    Conceptual
    Front End Engineering Design (FEED)
    Detailed Engineering
    Procurement
    Fabrication & Inspection
    Installation
    Pre-commissioning
    Commissioning
    Trial Period
    Operation
    Maintenance
    Mothballing
    Extension/Revamping

This article intends to briefly address some of the key activities in each phase.

Conceptual Phase
The most fundamental phase in which preliminary materials selection and 
 corrosion control, based on Statement of Requirement (SOR), and in line 
 with process design parameters, are made.

  • Innovation, discussion meetings with reputed vendors
    Risk of employing new technologies should not be ignored
    Optimisation and cost savings to be looked at carefully
    Discussion and agreement with the client on any software to be utilised 
 before it gets too late
    Site visit by CMM engineer can be very useful, if not crucial

FEED Phase

  • The project statement of requirements should detail scope of work for 
 this discipline
    Optimisation process, i.e. risk analysis and economic analysis should 
 be conducted

 

Detailed Engineering comprises

  • FEED endorsement
    Endorsement correction, HAZOP, licensor, etc. Corrosion control check-
 ups, Approved changes
    Full definition of materials (e.g. exact grade of titanium, etc., for example)
    Basis of material selection to be consistent with FEED
    Materials requisition and any technical deviation
    Critical review of package material, request for compliance
    Setting and finalising materials selection, as built
    Material selection control manual

 

Procurement and Construction

  • CMM to ensure compliance to specifications, and ensure that an exotic 
 material choice is not necessarily fit for service.
    Vendors technical bid and Concession Request (CR) document
    Upgrade requests from vendor should be assessed carefully
    Participate in pre-production meeting
    Materials selection change request during construction on CP, painting, 
 storage, etc.
    Issuing close-out report for as built condition
    No compromise to be made if it could affect integrity

Typical workflow for issuing a corrosion control material selection table/report.

Table of typical workflow for issuing a corrosion control material selection table/report.

Pre-commissioning

The CMM engineers to be alert to some of the procedures in the manual, such as hydro testing, and that they are practiced carefully.

The Interaction mechanisms

The simple diagram shows the relationship between the CMM engineer and the other disciplines, and the table summarises the links between a process engineer and a piping engineer, as the main disciplines interacting with the CMM engineer in any oil and gas project, in order to have a robust and solid material selection philosophy. Similar tables can be produced to include other disciplines’ scope of activities, for instance in applying a corrosion mitigation technique by ICCP, the interaction between CMM, pipeline, civil and electrical engineers should be clearly defined.

Summary

It is important to note that a continuous and integrated input and engagement of the CMM engineer is vital throughout all stages of a project, since the integrity, reliability and safety of the plant depends significantly on the degradation mechanisms and materials selection strategy – the backbone of a CMM engineer’s expertise.
The Oil & Gas company should ensure active participation of the CMM engineer and appropriate interaction of them with other disciplines throughout the project.

It is recommended that

  • The engineering director/company should ensure that there is a 
 continuous active participation, and appropriate interaction, of the 
 CMM engineer with other disciplines. It is also important that a proper 
 organisational chart is developed before the start of the project, and 
 the position and the work scope of the CMM engineer is defined for the 
 project, without any budget constraints for this important discipline.
    The harmful misconceptions that “Nothing Can Be Done About 
 Corrosion!” are avoided
    There is increased awareness of the large cost of corrosion and potential 
 savings that can be made
    A sound Corrosion Management strategy should be set-up by changing 
 policies, regulations, standards, management practices and attitudes, to 
 increase corrosion mitigation savings
    The education and training of staff in recognition of corrosion control 
 should be improved

Midland Branch

The branch has the following two online talks planned. Tuesday 20th October, starting at 12.00 Social Media for Professional Growth – Tips and Best Practices, Presenter – Dr Dawid Hanak, Senior Lecturer, Cranfield University, and Friday 27th November, Introduction to Mental Health – (MHFA England, Mental Health Aware Taster), Presenter – Russell Mott Lead Auditor & Trainer ATAS UK. Official Building Mental Health in Construction (BMH) toolbox talk and promoting both chat and poll questions in Zoom, again starting at 12.00. In the interim, the following links maybe useful to members for support and help on mental help; https://www.samaritans.org/, https://www.mind.org.uk/, https://mhfaengland.org/, https://atas-uk.com/, and specifically for younger members, https://www.studentminds.org.uk/
Full details can be found on the events page of the ICorr website.