Technical Integrity Engineering, also known as Asset Integrity, involves various

engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

disciplines that focus on ensuring a product, process, or system meets its intended requirements when used. Applying these disciplines to reduce costs, maintain schedules, manage technical risks, and handle legal concerns during a project's entire life cycle ensures operational safety and efficiency in e.g.,

Oil and Gas A fossil fuel is a flammable carbon compound- or hydrocarbon-containing material formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the buried remains of prehistoric organisms (animals, plants or microplanktons), a process that occurs within geologi ...

Power Generation Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy. For utilities in the electric power industry, it is the stage prior to its delivery ( transmission, distribution, etc.) to end users or its stora ...

, and

Nuclear Power Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by ...

industries. Integrity Engineering is a profession that uses

science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

math Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...

economics Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...

social Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not. Etymology The word "social" derives fro ...

insights,

legal Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a Socia ...

knowledge, and practical skills to ensure that products and systems are not only safe but also meet their legal and business requirements. Integrity Engineers perform tasks such as organizing inspections, managing integrity programs, and making sure plant facilities, including structures,

pipeline A pipeline is a system of Pipe (fluid conveyance), pipes for long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas, typically to a market area for consumption. The latest data from 2014 gives a total of slightly less than of pipeline in 120 countries ...

s, equipment, and piping systems, remain in good condition. For

Integrity Management Integrity management consulting is an emerging sector of consultancy that advises individuals and corporations on how to apply the highest ethical standards to every aspect of their business. Integrity within a corporate set-up is a holistic appro ...

, it's crucial that Integrity Engineers make independent, impartial decisions to ensure equipment is designed, maintained, operated, and decommissioned following the best industry practices. This independence helps maintain a high level of integrity and safety.

Scope

Integrity Engineers may be required to manage, develop, or conduct the following: * A high-level integrity management philosophy that includes verification and assurance of facilities (basic repair methods and strategies, Static equipment repair and temporary repairs, Fabric maintenance,

Corrosion Engineering Corrosion engineering is an engineering specialty that applies scientific, technical, engineering skills, and knowledge of natural laws and physical resources to design and implement materials, structures, devices, systems, and procedures to mana ...

, 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 Plan Integrity Management Plan (part of an asset integrity management system) is a documented and systematic approach to ensure the long-term integrity of an asset or assets. Integrity management planning is a process for assessing and mitigating risks ...

s * Identify, investigate and assess deterioration/corrosion and ensure timely maintenance of the affected facilities. * Implement Inspection and

Corrosion Corrosion is a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable oxide. It is the gradual deterioration of materials (usually a metal) by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engine ...

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 the 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 Corrosion engineering is an engineering specialty that applies scientific, technical, engineering skills, and knowledge of natural laws and physical resources to design and implement materials, structures, devices, systems, and procedures to mana ...

, Inspection Engineering, Verification Engineering, Process/Chemical and

Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines and mechanism (engineering), mechanisms that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and engineering mathematics, mathematics principl ...

and other Maintenance Units to coordinate major shutdowns and turn-around activities * Supervise, witness, and participate in the certification process of hydro tests and load tests 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 HAZOPs * 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 the basis of design (Process design basis) through to recycling. The Front End Engineering Design stage (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 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.

Cathodic protection Cathodic protection (CP; ) is a technique used to control the corrosion of a metal surface by making it the cathode of an electrochemical cell. A simple method of protection connects the metal to be protected to a more easily corroded " sacrifi ...

potentials, coating failures, etc.) during the monitoring regime. It may be a generalist in nature and/or applied with specific prior knowledge denoted using a pre-nominal of Mechanical, Inspection, Asset, Well or Wellhead, Technical, Pipeline, Signal, Fabrication, or Commissioning depending upon the equipment or system under scrutiny. Integrity Engineers construct and implement Integrity Management plans that detail the requirements of the item or asset under scrutiny and study any adverse effects from internal or external sources that damage / impair that item or system. These are used to build suitable inspection and condition monitoring forward strategies. The monitoring may include 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 quality assurance within the process that meets good engineering standards.

References

# 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 # NASA and Engineering Integrity Michael D. Griffin Administrator National Aeronautics and Space Administration Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium American Astronautical Society 21 October 2008 # Implementation of Asset Integrity Management System Muhammad Abduh PetroEnergy Magazine April – May 2008 Edition http://abduh137.wordpress.com/2008/05/04/aims/ # API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 584 Integrity Operating Windows FIRST EDITION, MAY 2014 # Pressure Equipment Integrity Incident Investigation API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 585 FIRST EDITION, APRIL 2014 # Process Integrity in Engineering and Manufacturing indle EditionJim Williams (Author) Published on Amazon.com

Scope

See also

References

Further reading