Guidelines for the management of the integrity of bolted joints in pressurised systems

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Published in association with UK Oil and Gas (formerly UKOOA) this guidance aims to improve the management of offshore installation integrity through the development and promotion of industry good practices and suitable performance measures. It replaces Guidelines for the Management of Integrity of Bolted Pipe Joints.

This revision was instigated by the cross-industry Installation Integrity Work Group, formed in 2004 by UKOOA and supported by the HSE. The good practice outlined in the first edition has been enhanced to reflect recent knowledge and experience gained and widened to include in-service inspection. This edition covers all bolted joints used within pressurised systems and is aimed at operators of all plants within all industries concerned with pressurised systems both offshore and onshore. It is also a useful reference document for training purposes and its compilation is supported by the ECITB and will be incorporated within its suite of Tech Skills programmes.

For the oil and gas industry, leaking joints are a principal cause of hydrocarbon releases. Consequential losses associated with correction, such as production shut down can be high. There are also significant risks to safety, occupational safety, major incidents and the environment. These guidelines aim to provide plant operators and service companies with a framework for the management of bolted joints used in pressurised systems and to assist companies in developing their own processes to meet the principles of these guidelines.