Maintenance optimisation of centrifugal pumps in a European refinery: : A case study
Abstract: Maintenance has gained credit over the past decades. The oil and gas industry requires efficient maintenance programs due to the hazardousness surrounding the industry. Crude oil margins are also dropping and maintenance yields high controllable costs. Therefore, safety and economy are the driving forces of maintenance optimisation. Refineries have to operate when margins are the most profitable so reliability is crucial.Centrifugal pumps are essential features of the refining process. Due to limited resources, maintenance work is prioritised according to the operating context and risks. Criticality analysis is a widespread tool in the industry which supports the resource allocation decision. The criticality level has, thus, to be highly accurate and adapted to the plant situation since it influences the overall maintenance system efficiency. Maintenance plans must be properly designed and implemented to enhance reliability. This paper states maintenance organisation around centrifugal pumps maintenance in a refinery. First, the current criticality assessment methodology has been found to be inadequate to the prioritisation of work so a new method has been developed. Then, a tailored spare parts strategy has been implemented and discussed. Finally, preventive maintenance plan has been reviewed using pump specialists findings and maintenance optimisation methodologies which has led to several improvement hints proposals.
AT THIS PAGE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE ESSAY. (follow the link to the next page)