N E W S   R E L E A S E   from FURMANITE INTERNATIONAL

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Expertise and quality standards avoid downtime for Saudi petrochem plant

Specialist expertise and experience from Furmanite, the technical services company which recently opened a Middle East office in Bahrain, avoided downtime for Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Company (Yanpet) – one of the world’s largest petrochemical facilities – when a malfunctioning safety relief valve was successfully repaired on-line, without disrupting production. Furmanite was awarded a certificate of appreciation for its performance and quality of service.

Furmanite was called in by Yanpet when the PSV valve on a turbine extraction line header was found to have popped at 2280KPa and was not closing properly, despite dropping the line pressure. In conjunction with Yanpet, Furmanite carried out a job safety analysis, identifying potential causes of the problem (including incorrect blowdown settings, a trapped particle between disc and seat, and a loss of spring tension), and discussing and recording the necessary courses of action and corresponding safety measures for each scenario in detail.

An isolation method to enable this steam line PSV valve to be replaced would have taken time, with the valve remaining open in the meantime resulting in high noise pollution, loss of production, and a risk of damage to other parts due to the excessive vibration caused. Instead, Furmanite’s Trevitest on-line valve testing was used.

Following trials to confirm the problem, Furmanite applied its Trevitest technology to adjust the spring tension and reseat the PSV valve, after which the valve reverted to normal opening and closing functions. A final on-line test using Trevitest was undertaken for certification.

Commenting on the project, Yanpet instrument engineer (core maintenance) Suchithran Makutty said: “We appreciate the safe and successful job execution at Yanpet. The experience and expertise of the Furmanite team enabled us to avoid an unnecessary unit shutdown. Furmanite’s commitment to safety, professionalism and commitment were evident throughout the execution of the project and we look forward to working with the company again in future.”

Furmanite Middle East manager Khairy Ahmed added: “This is typical of the advantages we’re able to offer through our range of on-line and on-site services and technologies, backed by high technical and safety standards, to help operators maximise asset uptime and keep their assets earning and operating efficiently.”

The Yanpet petrochemical complex in Madinat Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah, Saudi Arabia, is a 50-50 joint venture between Sabic and ExxonMobil. It produces more than 1.6 million tonnes of ethylene and more than 2 million tonnes of derivative products annually.

NOTE TO EDITORS
Furmanite’s Trevitest technology enables safety and relief valves to be tested on-line, at normal operating pressures and temperatures, without interrupting production. Trevitest can test most safety and relief valves used in steam, air, gas, process and water systems, including conventional spring-type valves, torsion bar valves, and pilot-operated valves. It works by applying a force to the valve spindle to overcome the spring tension of the valve. This is achieved using a hydraulic power pack attached to a specially designed set of mechanics (an adjustable frame with hydraulic rams and a load cell) mounted on the valve, and an electronic force transducer, which is linked to a portable computer, to trace the force applied. The recorded data, together with knowledge of the valve seat area and line pressure of the valve, enables the set pressure to be computed. A specially-certified version of Trevitest is available for use in the most hazardous conditions where a hot work permit cannot be issued.

For further press information contact:
Sarah Manwaring-White, Keep in Touch Ltd,
Tel: +44 (0)1451 844 488  Email: sarah_mw@keepintouch.co.uk

Issued on behalf of Furmanite International Ltd