18 entries found for "Risk Management"

  How to practically implement RBI for oil and gas production, gathering, and midstream facilities in the United States.

by Michael Hurley, 3/11/2026

Tags: API 580 API 581 Asset Performance Management Consequence Corrosion CUI Damage Mechanisms Data Collection Data Management Data Validation HSE Inspection Integrity Operating Windows Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Regulation Reliability Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management System Implementation Technology Work Process

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  What process do I need to follow to confirm an equivalent inspection technique?

by Michael Hurley, 3/3/2026

Tags: API 580 API 581 Corrosion CUI Damage Mechanisms HSE Inspection Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management RBMI Regulation Risk Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Technology Work Process

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  Can you improve reliability focusing on safety 1st, environmental preservation 2nd, and production 3rd

by Michael Hurley, 2/25/2026

Tags: API 580 API 581 Asset Performance Management Consequence Corrosion CUI Damage Mechanisms Data Analysis Data Management HSE Inspection Integrity Operating Windows Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Safe Operating Limits System Implementation Value Work Process

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  Is your risk-based inspection (RBI) implementation 3rd party really qualified to do the job?

by Michael Hurley, 2/17/2026

Tags: API 580 API 581 Corrosion CUI Damage Mechanisms Data Analysis Data Collection Data Management Data Migration Data Validation Inspection Integrity Operating Windows Mechanical Integrity Probability Process Safety Management Regulation Risk Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Skills Validation System Implementation Technology Training Value Work Process

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  What Do Good Refining Corporate Cultures Look Like?

by Michael Hurley, 2/8/2026

Tags: API 580 API 581 Asset Performance Management Data Management HSE Human Factors Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management RBMI Reliability Risk Risk Management Technology Training Value Work Process

In the refining industry, "culture" is often only analyzed after a failure occurs. However, a robust culture is defined by observable, repeatable behaviors and daily decisions made under pressure. This article outlines the seven practical attributes of high-performing refining organizations and demonstrates how alignment between leadership values and technical integrity creates a safer, more profitable operation.

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  Execution Failures: The Main Cause of PSM Loss-of-Containment

by Michael Hurley, 1/21/2026

Tags: Asset Performance Management Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Management

Investigations by the CSB and industry standards like API RP 754 reveal that the majority of loss-of-containment events are preventable through disciplined execution. While degradation mechanisms are often well understood and corrective actions identified, disasters frequently occur because repairs are delayed or inspections are deferred. This post explores how organizational accountability and robust governance can prevent these systemic breakdowns in PSM execution.

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  Why is Mechanical Integrity So Important to Process Safety Management?

by Michael Hurley, 12/3/2025

Tags: API 580 API 581 Damage Mechanisms Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Regulation Risk Management

Mechanical Integrity (MI) is the crucial foundation of Process Safety Management (PSM). Major accidents overwhelmingly result from equipment failures like ruptured vessels or corroded piping. This post details eight essential reasons why a robust MI program is vital, including preventing loss of containment , ensuring safeguards function as designed , and meeting mandatory OSHA and EPA compliance.

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  Are U.S. Refinery Incidents Increasing? A Clearer Look at the Data, the Debate, and When the Trend Began

by Michael Hurley, 11/26/2025

Tags: Mechanical Integrity Regulation Risk Management

Public data suggests U.S. refinery fires and explosions have increased significantly since 2018, with some analyses showing a tripling of incidents. However, industry process safety metrics indicate improvement. This article explores the evidence, why the datasets conflict, and the start of the upward trend.

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  Why We Still See Refinery Fires - More Than 30 Years After OSHA 1910.119

by Michael Hurley, 11/20/2025

Tags: HSE Process Safety Management Regulation Risk Management

Despite OSHA's 1992 Process Safety Management (PSM) standard, refinery and chemical plant fires continue to make headlines. This post breaks down the seven systemic reasons why these incidents persist. We explore how mere compliance, aging infrastructure, weak safety culture, and reactive risk management prevent the elimination of catastrophic risks.

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  Why Moving to RBI Makes Sense - No Matter Where You Start

by Michael Hurley, 11/5/2025

Tags: Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Based Inspection Risk Management

Discover how transitioning to a Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) approach can deliver real value and significant cost savings over traditional time/condition-based Mechanical Integrity (MI) programs. We use a simple 100-vessel example to show a potential $645,000 savings per inspection cycle and discuss how RBI accelerates compliance and prioritizes safety-critical tasks.

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  Proposal for Individual Damage Mechanism Risk Calculation in API 581

by Michael Hurley, 10/22/2025

Tags: API 581 Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Technology

In 2021, I published a proposed change to the API 581 PoF calculation. While I believe API 581 is solid as a recommended practice, I believe that inspection planning can be further optimized and fine-tuned to adapt to organizational needs. Since then, the original article has prompted a variety of comments and questions and so I have rewritten the original article for, hopefully, a little more clarity, and I have consolidated the top questions along with my comments.

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  The Top Three RBI Risks That Cannot Wait for a Budget Rebound

by Michael Hurley, 10/1/2025

Tags: CUI Inspection Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Regulation Risk Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Value

When organizations face budget cuts, they may postpone projects, but certain risks are too critical to delay. This post highlights three such Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) risks that demand immediate attention: high-risk equipment, Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI), and overdue critical inspections. Acting now can safeguard people, assets, and the bottom line from costly failures.

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  A Practical Way to Incorporate the New PHMSA Underground Gas Storage Requirements Into your MI Program

by Michael Hurley, 3/11/2021

Tags: Damage Mechanisms Inspection Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Regulation Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management

PHMSA has out a new rule for underground natural gas storage facilities (UNGSFs). This is practical approach to incorporating gas wells into your mechanical integrity program with the rest of your surface and subsurface assets.

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  Plant Management 101: Common Work Processes

by Michael Hurley, 3/3/2021

Tags: Asset Performance Management Data Collection Data Validation Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Reliability Risk Management Training Work Process

This article deals with the dysfunctionality found in many refineries, chemical plants, and other production facilities. This can lead a facility to not reaching its value and reliability goals. One of the main reasons for this dysfunctionality is facility departments not using a common asset management work process.

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  Proposed API 581 Inspection Plan Optimization Example

by Michael Hurley, 2/4/2021

Tags: API 581 Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Technology

This article deals with a proposal for a risk analysis option that allows for individual damage mechanism risk calculation. This is an example of how it can be applied and how it domonstrates value.

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  Proposed API 581 Inspection Plan Optimization

by Michael Hurley, 1/27/2021

Tags: API 581 Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Analysis Risk Based Inspection Risk Management Technology

This article deals with a proposal for a risk analysis option that allows for individual damage mechanism risk calculation. This allows for these individual damage mechanism risks to be compared to a risk target that when reached generates an inspection task with its own due date.

3 Comments

  RBI Value: Both Transitioning And From The Start

by Michael Hurley, 1/21/2021

Tags: Mechanical Integrity Process Safety Management Risk Based Inspection Risk Management

This article deals with the value of going directly to an Risk Based Inspection (RBI) program from nothing or transitioning from a time/condition based program and demonstrates that an RBI program is the efficient use of resources.

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  Risk Management for Kids

by Leon Johnson, 6/12/2018

Tags: Community Outreach Consequence Probability Risk Based Inspection Risk Management

One of our consultants brings Risk Based Inspection into the grade school classroom for Career Day.

1 Comments