Case study
High-Uncertainty Amine Contactor → Defensible Integrity Decision
Inspection delivered a clear, evidence-based integrity position where condition and degradation risk were uncertain.
Key Outcomes
- Removed uncertainty in vessel condition
- Identified and assessed localised degradation
- Provided clear basis for continued safe operation
- Improved confidence in inspection and maintenance strategy
Project Overview
The Challenge
The condition of the vessel was uncertain due to:
- Changing operating conditions and process chemistry
- Limited confidence in existing inspection data
- Risk of internal degradation mechanisms not fully understood
A conventional inspection approach would have required shutdown and internal entry, without guaranteeing improved clarity on vessel condition.
The Solution
Planning
- Assessment of damage mechanisms specific to amine service
- Identification of high-risk zones and degradation drivers
- Definition of inspection scope focused on uncertainty reduction
Execution
- External inspection using advanced NDT methods
- Focused data acquisition in critical areas
- Detection and assessment of localised degradation features
Close-Out
- Engineering evaluation of inspection results
- Correlation with historical data and operating context
- Development of a clear integrity position and forward strategy
Technical Detail
- Inspection strategy aligned to amine-related degradation mechanisms
- High-resolution data capture in areas of elevated risk
- Identification and quantification of localised wall loss
- Data-driven validation of vessel condition
- Integration with integrity management and future inspection planning
Outcome & Impact
The inspection transformed an uncertain integrity position into a clear, defensible decision.
- Condition of the vessel established with confidence
- Risk of undetected degradation significantly reduced
- Shutdown-based inspection avoided
- Future inspection strategy optimised
Key Takeaways
- Targeted inspection is critical when degradation mechanisms are uncertain
- NII can provide greater clarity than conventional inspection in complex services
- Engineering-led strategies deliver more reliable integrity decisions
- Reducing uncertainty is often more valuable than increasing inspection scope