(54c) Managing on Stream Leak Repairs

The purpose of a Fabricated Equipment Mechanical Integrity Program is to ensure the reliable containment of process contents. An on stream leak from a pressure vessel, piping circuit, tank or other piece of process equipment represents a failure of the mechanical integrity program which could imperil the safety, reliability and environmental performance of a process unit. This mechanical integrity failure event, and its potential consequences, can be mitigated; however, if an ?On Stream Leak Repair? (OSLR) can be accomplished in a rapid, safe and reliable manner. OSLRs, commonly known as ?leak clamps?, are an essential reliability tool for continuously operating processes. Unfortunately, OSLR management is not specifically addressed in many plant Fabricated Equipment Mechanical Integrity Programs. Correspondingly, OSLR implementation and tracking protocols at many plants are not tight; allowing these devices to devolve over time into latent catastrophic process hazards. This paper reviews the typical failure scenarios associated with OSLRs and offers some practical advice as to how to manage their implementation and how to verify their eventual removal.