PSM Implementation at Binh Son Refining &petrochemical Ltd. - Challenges and Strategies

PSM implementation at Binh Son Refining &Petrochemical Ltd. - Challenges and Strategies

Author:

Vo Hoang Vu – PSM Manager / Secretary of PSMC Steering Committee - BSR

Co-authors:

Tran Ngoc Nguyen - Production Vice President / Head of PSMC Steering Committee - BSR

Dang Ngoc Dinh Diep – Technical Manager / Deputy Head of PSMC Steering Committee - BSR

Abstract

Dung  Quat  Refinery  (DQR)  is  a  medium  size  (148,000  barrels  per  day  (bpd)),  medium  conversion refinery.  It  is  designed  to  process  mainly  local  light  sweet  crude  oil  into  transportation  fuels,  LPG, propylene  and  fuel  oil  for  domestic  consumption.    The refinery and polypropylene plant are owned and operated by Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co. Ltd., (BSR), which is a 100% subsidiary of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation. BSR has commissioned its refinery in the year 2009 and polypropylene plant in the year 2010. This is still first and only refinery in Vietnam.

Process Safety Management was introduced in the year 2010 with 12/14 OSHA PSM elements. In the absence of any regulatory requirement like OSHA PSM rule, there were many challenges in implementing PSM and integrating it into day to day operation of the refinery. Significant challenges were structuring a PSM implementation organization with roles and responsibilities, Development of company PSM and Operating Procedures and Practices, Training and PSM competency development, Building a process safety culture, Implementing risk reduction and control measures and Audit and improvement of PSM systems.

Top management commitment for stable, safe and effective operation of the refinery, helped in developing a set of strategies with short term, mid-term and long term action plans. The integration of PSM into day to day operations is helping in safe and reliable operation of a prime national asset.

This paper describes the challenges in implementing a successful, well integrated PSM program and the strategies in place for continual improvement of safety and reliability of refinery operations at BSR.