Pipework Vibration

Your challenge

Failures in pipework can arise as a consequence of vibration-induced fatigue and the consequences can be fatal. In some situations a detailed investigation and assessment is required to determine why a piping failure has occurred and what can be done to reduce the likelihood of a problem re-occurring.

How Bureau Veritas supports you

Our expert team can provide a tailored measurement survey campaign to understand the source of the problem. Too often in the industry a generic stiffening of the pipework via additional supports and/or clamps is seen as the way ahead. But this is not always carried out with vibration in mind and may not be the only (or best) solution available.

We have worked closely with the oil and gas industry and the regulatory authorities to develop a risk assessment methodology to identify areas at risk from vibration-induced failures: the Process Screening Integrity (PSI) technique.

The PSI predictive technique is suitable for both new facilities (even at FEED stages) as well as those already in production. For new facilities, PSI can identify pipework at risk from vibration fatigue in the design phase, so appropriate modifications can be made before the facility is put in operation. For operational facilities, the results of a formal study, supported by field measurements, can show the way to reduce or eliminate the potential failures due to fatigue. The PSI screening method is also a good starting point to identify high risk areas and where to focus subsequent measurement campaigns and mitigation programs.

Our flexible services include:

• Full scale or area focused Vibration Risk Assessments (VRAs) to evaluate and rank by risk the possible integrity threats within a plant/installation. All pipework is assessed via the use of a mixed technique including PSI pre-screening, vibration and dynamic stress measurements and visual assessments, etc

• Comparing vibration data against accepted criteria and ranking it by the likelihood of failure in line with the Energy Institute Guidelines. Where problems are encountered, further investigation is carried out 

• Dynamic strain measurements (on both the main line and small bore connections); particularly useful to identify Small Bore Connections (SBCs) at risk of fatigue failure

• Multi-channel ODS (Operational Deflection Shape) and modal analysis of the pipework or structure

• Supporting with design and review stages when introducing supports and clamps, to ensure that these measures are effective against vibration threats

• PSI pre-screening technique: a desk based assessment useful for both existing and FEED stage plants to identify vibration mechanisms not identifiable via the traditional measurement campaigns, such as Acoustic Induced Vibration (AIV), Flow Induced Vibration (FIV) and Flow Induced Pulsation (FLIP)

• Pipework vibration awareness training to site personnel to help them understand the basics of pipework vibration and recognise good/bad configurations of supports

• FEA Simulation for structures affected by vibration. Recent projects include the FE analysis of skids supporting gas compressors and gas turbines and the introduction of additional stiffening to the skids

Benefits

• Understand piping failure and identify areas at risk to save money, avoid downtime and improve safety

• Bureau Veritas was involved in the development and update of the Energy Institute “Guidelines for the Avoidance of Fatigue Induced Failure in Process Pipework” (2008)

• Experienced team of qualified consultants with vast experience in both offshore and onshore installations in the UK and worldwide

• All members of the Institute of Acoustics (IoA)

• Wide range of proactive training opportunities