AOC
Give at least three examples of abnormal facility conditions.
- Exposed piping - Missing/damaged pipeline supports - Evidence of corrosion - Missing signs/markers - Equipment stalled over the line - Hazardous atmosphere alarms - Resistance temperature device alarms (RTD)
What precautions should be made for areas of piping susceptible to damage by soil movement?
- Pipeline personnel should be aware of weather patterns and conditions that could cause soil movement. - Personnel should be available at these vulnerable areas for patrolling, preventative maintenance activities, and emergency response actions such as shutdown, isolation, and containment.
If an alarm is signaled and the pressure within a pipeline remains high, what can be done to reduce the pressure?
- Shutting down the upstream pumping station - Closing a block valve - shutting down the pipeline system
What necessary actions, in order, does an operator need to take during abnormal operating conditions?
1. Recognize the AOC 2. Investigate the cause of the alert 3. Perform the actions planned 4. Make the appropriate notifications
True or False. Fire alarms have normally open contacts that only close in response to a rapid rise in temperature, as would be experienced by the presence of open flames.
False
True or False. The unintended closure of a main-line block valve, remote block valve, manual block valve, pump station suction or discharge valve, and terminal valve will result in an automatic shutdown of the pipeline and will immediately cause an AOC.
False
What actions should be done as a response to a seal failure alarm?
Operations and maintenance personnel should validate the alarm, check station sump level, and notify the appropriate personnel. In addition, control center personnel are required to document the incident and notify appropriate personnel to check and possibly replace the seal.
In the case of a fire explosion, or release, what must operations personnel do first?
Operations personnel will need to isolate the pipeline by safely shutting down the originating station and continuing downstream until all pumps have turned off.
During an electrical storm, if lightning strikes a full tank at the facility and the roof seal catches on fire, what necessary action should be taken?
Operations should follow company policy and the fire department should be contacted immediately to contain the fire.
If it is discovered that there's a loss of a communications device, what must be done?
Personnel should immediately contact the control center to verify the condition. Operations and/ or other appropriate personnel should determine the exact cause and take decisive action to control the condition, while adhering to company policy and procedures.
True or False. If a pump case temperature reaches such a critical level and automatically shuts down, would it be classified as an AOC?
True
What causes would've created a loss of control of remotely operated components on the pipeline?
- Intermittent facility outages - Loss of the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system
In the case of a product release, what must be done to ensure the safety of the public?
- The atmosphere downwind must be tested repeatedly for the concentration of vapors to determine if there's a threat of an explosion. - Potentially affected populated areas must be warned and possibly evacuated to designated safe areas. - Law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel must help in directing people away from affected areas, so as to provide them the most protection.
Once the command to evacuate a facility is given, what must be done by designated personnel?
A roll call of each employee name and check off of who is present in the safe area is performed. Every person must be accounted for.
Define an AOC.
An AOC is any condition identified by the individual that may indicate failure of a component or deviation from normal operations. It may also be a condition that exceeds design limits or results in hazards.
What are abnormal facility conditions?
Conditions that relate to problems involving the physical structure of the pipeline.
What must be done if the hazardous atmosphere alarm indicates the presence of a LEL of 20%?
Evacuate the area.
Suppose a pipeline system with multiple stations is flowing with all units running. Suddenly, power is lost at a station that is needed to keep pressure below maximum operation pressure (MOP). What should be done?
The control center operator would have to shut down the pipeline system to avoid any overpressure. The terminal operator must switch off any pumps that are running so when power returns, they won't start up. Yard personnel should be present in order to manually operate valves. If a shutdown is not required, shipment will continue to arrive and the schedule and the task followed through manually.
If an individual discovers damage to pipeline supports to be critical, what course of action should be done?
The individual must contact the control center or appropriate company personnel immediately if piping is in danger of excessive movement. The operator should then follow company policy to investigate the condition and dispatch qualified personnel. It is also necessary that the individual that made the discovery remain a safe distance from the scene.
True or False. An individual's actions during the performance of a covered task could cause a safety device to activate. The activation represents a deviation from normal operations, resulting in an AOC.
True
