A Study of Effective Procedural Practices in Refining and Chemical Operations

Abstract

Significant investments have been made in the process industry in procedural practices and supporting technology with a focus to improve safety, reliability and efficiency in operations. Despite these efforts, many plants have not yet realized the full, expected benefits of procedural operations for a variety of reasons. A field study was conducted to understand some of the factors impacting the success of procedural operations and to develop recommendations for improved practices and tools. During the study, the team visited five refining and chemical sites, and interviewed key personnel on their experiences with procedures and the use of supporting technologies. Objectives of procedural operations were noted and ranked. Root causes of procedural breakdowns were assessed through incident reports and through surveys. Effective practices were also identified in the areas of procedure content, policy and process, technology aids and development.