Loss prevention in hydrocarbon facilities

Abstract

Loss Prevention techniques in hydrocarbon facilities are to prevent personal injury or loss of life, to protect the installation from fire, explosion, and operational safety hazards inherent to the facilities and Protection of the environment by early detection of hazardous conditions and the subsequent shutdown, vapor depressurizing, and ventilation of hydrocarbons. The loss prevention philosophy is normally formulated based on a maximum of one major incident occurring at any one time, and the premise that hazards can arise in any section of the facility, in varying degrees of magnitude, and from a variety of sources. On normally-manned[1] facilities, personnel are trained to manage operational activities with the highest regard for safe procedures and to react appropriately in the event of emergencies. The safety of the facility requires that the plant is inspected and maintained, safe procedures are used and improved based on experience, to minimize the probability of occurrence of hazardous conditions. On un-manned facilities[2], fire protection systems are provided based on a formal risk assessment which shows them to be necessary. This article focuses on the loss prevention philosophy implemented in a hydro carbon facility for safe operation of the facility either during manned operations or unmanned operations by focusing on parameters such as the design strategy adopted while designing the facility (such as facility layout, fire protection, flaring design, drains design), areas classifications inside the facility that is designed, escape and evacuation route, climate control etc.