Front End Engineering Design Support - Hazard and Operability Study for Bitumen Terminal

Requirements

We were commissioned by Puma Energy to conduct a Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) to review the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for its North Vietnam Bitumen Terminal. The Bitumen Terminal consists of the following:

• Bitumen Tanks, Bitumen lines (loading/ unloading);
• Jetty for berthing of marine tankers;
• Loading Bay for supply/ receipt of Bitumen to tank truck;
• Bitumen Heating System;
• Hot Oil Heating System;
• Fire Water System for fire protection;
• Polymer-Modified Bitumen (PMB) plant for Bitumen enhancement, Emulsion Plant for Bitumen enhancement;
• Compressed Air System for pneumatic air supply to control valves network;
• Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Treatment Plant for removal of the H2S evolved from PMB Plant processes.

Solutions

We conducted the HAZOP study in a systematic and structured design review technique to identify process hazards and reduce or eliminate consequential risk on personnel, environment, asset and reputation.

We also defined each operation into simpler systems known as study nodes. The HAZOP identify critical process parameters, corresponding deviations from its intended operation modes, the respective causes and existing safeguards. Once the safeguards are deemed inadequate recommendations are given and recorded in the HAZOP worksheet.

Benefits

• A consise analysis and presentation of the HAZOP Study provided the client with a clear understanding on the operational issues of each of the Bitumen Terminal facilities;
• Close to 120 recommendations rwere raised during the HAZOP study;
• The recommendations were incorporated to the design and operations, with the aim to improve the operability of the Bitumen Terminal.