API 581 Training

This course walks participants through the API Recommended Practice 581 Risk-Based Inspection Methodology (3rd Edition) with discussion and exercises designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of key elements of the methodology. API 581 is an industry-recognized and widely adopted methodology for determining risk for RBI. According to API 581, this recommended practice "provides quantitative procedures to establish an inspection program using risk-based methods for pressurized fixed equipment including pressure vessel, piping, tankage, pressure relief devices (PRDs), and heat exchanger tube bundles."

During this three-day course, we will cover how the recommended practice is organized, probability of failure calculation methods for damage mechanisms, consequence of failure, and the risk-based inspection planning process.

Course Topics

• Introduction to API 581
• Basic API 581 Concepts
• RBI Equipment Types and Methods
• Inspection Effectiveness
• Risk Communication
• Inspection Planning
• Probability of Failure
• Determining Damage Factors
• Corrosion Rates
• Consequence of Failure

In addition to the classroom or online instruction, this course includes excersises designed to help you better understand the RBI methodology defined in API RP 581.

Who should attend

The target audience includes inspection and engineering personnel responsible for fixed equipment mechanical integrity as well as other team members that participate in the RBI process.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Understand the purpose of RP API 581 and how it is organized
• Understand how probability of failure is calculated for Thinning, Cracking, and External damage mechanisms
• Determine how consequence of failure is calculated in an API 581 Level 1 Consequence analysis
• Identify how POF and COF are combined to determine risk in API 581
• Describe how risk based inspection planning is accomplished in the API 581 methodology

Where is this course offered?

We offer this training in both face-to-face, classroom format as well as online.

Face-to-Face / Classroom

This course is available in-house (at AOC) or on-site (at your location) and can be customized to meet the specific needs of your organization. While we offer this course to the public in our in-house training facility in Houston, Texas, we also provide this course (or variations of this course) in-house or on-site to many other companies around the world.

Attendees are responsible for their own method of transportation, lodging, and meals. AOC does provide lunch for the day of the course.

Online / Virtual

In addition to our face-to-face, classroom format, we also offer this training online.

1. We will utilize web meetings to facilitate the course during the scheduled course hours. You will be provided links to the online meetings one week prior to the training.
2. During the course days we will have web sessions for presentations, discussions, and exercises. There will be some exercises that you will complete on your own and then we will meet online to discuss the results/answer questions.
3. Prior to the course, you will be provided with participant notes and exercises to accompany the course.

Included API 581 Training Course Materials

• Comprehensive note set
• Practice exercises to reinforce learning and understanding

Attendee Requirements

All attendees are responsible to provide their own copies of the API RP 581 (3rd Edition) documentation.

How much does it cost?

Our standard 3-day API 581 Training costs $975 / per participant for our in-house offering at our Houston, Texas Headquarters or for the Online format.

When is this course offered?

Unlike our API 580 Training, which is offered in concert with API's certification exam schedule, this course is offered as demand dictates. If no sessions are currently listed at the top of this page, please reach out to us using this form to inquire about our next offering.

Facilitators

Leon Johnson, Vice President - Performance and Learning

Leon has over 18 years of experience providing RBI program implementation, management, and training in the refining, gas processing, petrochemical, and chemical industries. Leon has a B.S. in Engineering Technology from the University of Houston and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University, Kingsville. In addition to API 580 certification, he is a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) and a Member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD).

Mike Hurley, Vice President - Technology

Mike has over 20 years of experience providing Inspection, RBI, PSM program implementation, management, and training in the refining, gas processing, petrochemical, and chemical industries, with half or more working directly for major chemical companies. Mike has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas. In addition, he is also certified to API 580.

Cancellations

AOC's policies with respect to cancellation either by the participant or by AOC are as follows:

• Course Cancelation: Should this course be cancelled due to insufficient attendance, all registration fees shall be refunded. AOC will contact participants 30 days prior to the start of the course to confirm attendance and provide further details. AOC are not responsible for losses in travel/accommodation expenses, therefore it is advised that participants refrain from booking travel/accommodation until they confirm the course with AOC.
• Participant Cancellation: Any participant that decides not to attend is entitled to transfer their registration to a substitute participant or may attend a later course. No refunds will be given.

We have been providing Risk Based Inspection training since our inception. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using AOC as your RBI training provider:

• AOC's consultants have remained at the forefront of RBI and were involved in RBI before API 580/581 even existed.
• AOC consultants continue to be actively involved in the development of the API 580 Recommended Practice.
• Our courseware is professionally developed and takes into account current instructional best-practices.
• AOC trainers are API 580 certified.
• Our trainers have been facilitating RBI training courses for over 20 years
• Our trainers are not merely teachers - Between them they have over 60 years practical experience with hundreds of RBI implementations in many diverse plants, operational environments, and regulatory environments around the world.

American Petroleum Institute (API)

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is a national trade association that represents all facets of the oil and natural gas industry. Although it's focus is primarily in the US, API is recognized around the world for a broad range of programs. For more than 90 years, API had been at the forefront of the development of petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemical equipment and operating standards and now has an extensive catalog of codes which standardize industry practices.

API offers an Individual Certification Program designed to recognize working professionals who are knowledgeable of industry inspection codes and standards and who are performing their jobs in accordance with such codes and standards. Adherence to API standards and practices is a legal requirement in many US states and has become widely recognized and adopted in many other countries.

Risk Based Inspection (RBI)

Risk Based Inspection (RBI) is a methodology used to schedule inspections of equipment in industrial plants. Equipment usually consists of piping or fixed equipment such as pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and storage tanks.

Throughout the refining and petrochemical industry, RBI is becoming an accepted and dominant methodology to schedule pressure equipment inspections. Effective RBI has been proven to improve reliability and safety of such equipment. These benefits have been achieved by mitigating risks (primarily through inspection) associated with loss of containment events caused by damage mechanisms.

RBI is, essentially, a method of optimizing inspection plans so that risk is minimized and return on investment is maximized.

When done correctly, RBI can reduce the frequency of inspections while ensuring the risk does not increase. Conversely, it can shorten inspection frequencies should the risk necessitate it.

This complex nature of RBI has necessitated a need for a formal definition of the methodology.

API Recommended Practice 581

In 2002, API published it's first edition of their Recommended Practice 580 which formally outlines and explains the basic elements for developing, implementing, and maintaining a credible RBI program.

While Recommended Practice API 580, Risk-based Inspection, provides guidance on developing RBI programs, Recommended Practice API RP 581, Risk-Based Inspection Methodology, provides quantitative methods for calculating POF, COF, and developing risk-based inspection plans.