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No : MEP-R-ES-011

PRESSURE ISOLATION

Rev 0
page 1 of 15
Rev Date : 24 June 2007

PT. MEDCO E&P INDONESIA

STANDARD SPECIFICATION
FOR
PRESSURE ISOLATION

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Table of Contents
1

ISOLATION PHILOSOPHY ...............................................................................................3

1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................ 3
1.2 Objectives.................................................................................................................................. 3

IDENTIFICATION OF SERVICE........................................................................................3
2.1 Hazardous Service .................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Non Hazardous Service ............................................................................................................ 4

TYPE OF ISOLATION .......................................................................................................4

3.1 Positive Isolation ....................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Valved Isolation ......................................................................................................................... 5

ISOLATION OF INSTRUMENTS .......................................................................................6

4.1 Level Instrumentation ................................................................................................................ 6
4.2 Pressure Instruments ................................................................................................................ 6

ISOLATION OF RELIEF VALVES .....................................................................................6

SECURING VALVE POSITION .........................................................................................6

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE CONNECTIONS ...............................................................7

7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4

Vessel Vents ............................................................................................................................. 7

Vessel Drains ............................................................................................................................ 7
Equipment Vents and Drains .................................................................................................... 7
Vents and Drains for Freeing Hydrocarbons............................................................................. 7

TYPICAL STANDARD DETAILS .......................................................................................8

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1.1

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ISOLATION PHILOSOPHY
Introduction
This standard specification describes the method to be used in making provision to completely
isolate equipment or sections of plant to permit safe operation and to provide access for
maintenance and inspection.
This standard specification of pressure isolation for design and operating guide shall apply to the
original design, modification and operation of process and utility systems in all facilities operated
by PT. Medco E&P Indonesia.
In general, it must be possible to isolate all equipment separately or commonly within a process
system except those systems in non-hydrocarbon service where it has been established that a
hazardous condition will definitely not exist.

1.2

Objectives
The objectives of this standard specification of pressure isolation are:

to define safe isolation methods, draining, purging and venting provisions for on-line plant
containing process and utility liquids and gases, so that operation, maintenance and
inspection can take place with minimum plant shutdown.

to ensure necessary facilities are incorporated in the design.

to minimise cost consistent with maintaining project safety objectives.

IDENTIFICATION OF SERVICE
2.1

Hazardous Service for Process Design

The definition of Hazardous Service is as any of followings:

2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4
2.1.5
2.1.6

2.1.7
2.1.8

fluids above their Auto Ignition Temperature (AIT).

flammable liquids flashing on leakage that could form a vapour cloud.
flammable gases which may form a vapour cloud on leakage.
fluids liable to cause a hazard by blockage due to hydrate formation or solids deposition.
fluids with a flash point below 140F (60 C), including methanol.
toxic substances which cause serious irreversible damage unless prompt restorative
measures are taken eg. high H2S gas concentrations. The H2S concentration above
500ppm is considered as toxic.
heating medium fluids above 212 F (100 C).
any fluid at pressure requiring piping of ANSI 1500 # and above.

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2.2

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Non Hazardous Service

The service which does not fall under hazardous service is classified as non hazardous
service.

TYPE OF ISOLATION

3.1

Positive Isolation
Positive isolation is defined as a method of guaranteeing 100 % physical segregation of a
hazard or contamination source from personnel and/or product inventory.
Positive Isolation must be employed in any of the following conditions

all confined space entries

to prevent cross-contamination of utilities with process

to isolate a train from other hazardous process/utilities for purpose of

overhaul/inspection.

where hot work is to be undertaken exclude hot tap

where equipment is to be mothballed

for process fluids above auto ignition temperature

long duration isolation (more than one week)

Positive Isolation must be achieved in one of following ways:1)

Spectacle Blind
This is a combined spacer and spade blind system used for size/pressure
combinations where weight is less than 50 kg. Refer to Table 1 below

2)

Spacer and Spade Blind

Install a spacer with the same thickness as the fully rated spade blind. The
spacer facilitates the installation of the spade blind when required.

3)

Drop Out Spools

The removal of a spool piece with blanking of open ends.

Blanks, spades, (blinds), bolting and gaskets shall conform to the piping specification for
the line. The following Table1 compares the type of positive isolation available,

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Table 1 : COMPARISON OF TYPE OF POSITIVE ISOLATION.

Line Size
(inch NB)
1
2
3
4
6
8
10
12
14

150

300

ANSI/API FLANGE RATING

600
900

1500

2500

SPECTACLE BLINDS

SPADE AND SPACER / REMOVABLE

SPOOL

OVER

Process will draft the P&IDs showing spectacle blinds or spacers in accordance with
above table, as a means of identifying the need for positive isolation. EPC contractor in
detailed design shall determine if drop out spools are more applicable based on piping
layout/flexibility.

3.2

Valve Isolation
Valve isolation can also be used for low-risk, non-entry situation which does not fall in any
of the category listed in positive isolation.
Valve isolation should be achieved in one of two ways:(a)

Double Block and Bleed (referred to as 'DBB') is consist of two block valves or
block valve and spectacle blind with interposing bleed valve. The bleed valve
should be to a safe location. Security measures to prevent inadvertent operation
of the valves are essential. Manual block valves and ESD valves are acceptable
for use in double block and bleed isolation, except for fail open valves.

(b)

Single Block and Bleed isolation (referred to as SBB) is consist of a single block
valve with a bleed on the side of the equipment to be taken off-line. Non-return
valves, control valves and other valves which do not provide tight shut-off, must
not be used for purpose of block valve.

The following table specifies the guidelines for using DBB and SBB
Table 2: GUIDELINE ON USING VALVE ISOLATION

Hazardous
Non Hazardous

Valve Isolation
DBB
SBB

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ISOLATION OF INSTRUMENTS

4.1

Level Instrumentation
Level instrumentation on all hazardous service vessels shall have double block and bleed
isolation valves. Integral DBB (IDBB) valves are acceptable.

4.2

Pressure Instruments
All pressure instrumentation in hazardous service will be provided with double block and
bleed assembly as the process isolation. Integral DBB (IDBB) valves are acceptable.

ISOLATION OF RELIEF VALVES

Duplicated relief devices for vessels and systems installed to allow on-line maintenance. The
relief valve in operation will be in the locked open position (LO). The spare relief valve will have
the upstream isolation valve in the locked closed (LC) position, and the downstream isolation
valve in the open position. When maintenance of one of the relief valves is required the inlet and
outlet block valves on the relief valve to be maintained will need to be locked closed. Refer to
standard details in Attachment A.
The isolation valves provided upstream of the relief valve will follow the requirement as listed in
Table 2 i.e. in case of hazardous service the upstream valves will be DBB and in case of nonhazardous service the upstream valves will be SBB.

SECURING VALVE POSITION

Securing of valves in position is defined as a method of locking the valves to avoid inadvertent
opening/closing. Secured valves will be provided on systems where, for safe operation, valves are
required to operate in either a fixed open or closed position.
The following applications of valve position securing are proposed and will be indicated on the
P&IDs:
a)

Within fire protection systems, valves on firewater distribution, and local foam distribution
systems shall be locked open/closed as appropriate.

b)

Isolation valves for ESD instruments shall be locked open.

c)

Where blow down valves are provided with block valves these shall be locked open.

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EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE CONNECTIONS

7.1

Vessel Vents

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Manual maintenance vent connections shall be provided for equipment requiring maintenance.
The vent connections shall consist of an isolation valve followed by a globe valve with the exit
pipe discharging into the flare header.
The manual vent connections shall be generally of 2 size.

7.2

Vessel Drains
Vessel shall be isolated from the drain system with use of positive isolation.
The drain connection may be either directly off the vessel or off the liquid outlet piping and shall
generally be 2 except where drainage times would become excessive.
For hazardous service, the drain assembly shall consist of a ball valve and globe valve in series
connected to the drain system. A bleed valve will be provided between the ball and the globe
valve. A spectacle blind will be provided upstream of the globe valve.
For non hazardous service, the drain assembly shall consist of a ball valve connected to the drain
system.
For standard drain assembly, refer to Attachment A.

7.3

Equipment Vents and Drains

Vents and drains from equipment other than vessels will be assessed on an individual basis.
Vents and drains from equipment such as filters, pumps and tanks will generally follow the
philosophy outlined for vessels. Small items of equipment and heat exchangers may be vented
and drained as part of the piping system.

7.4

Vents and Drains for Freeing Hydrocarbons

All vessels in hydrocarbon, glycol and hot oil services will be provided with vent and drain
connections for freeing hydrocarbons.

These connections are required to free the residual gases inside the vessel after isolation by
filling with water and draining prior to personnel entry and/or other maintenance work.

Drain connection for the columns and vertical vessels with skirts will be provided on the outlet
nozzle pipe from bottom of the equipment, upstream of the blind and physically located
outside the skirt.

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Drain / Vent connections will be provided on shell or channel of the shell & tube heat
exchangers handling HC, glycol or hot oil.

A utility connection will be provided to allow purging by nitrogen.

Vessels equipped with a single man way will be provided with a 6 vent connection, nozzle
plus blank flange, at a point remote from the man way.

TYPICAL STANDARD DETAILS

Refer to Attachment A for typical standard details.

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Attachment A Typical Standard Details

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Vessels / Piping
Drain from Non Hazardous Systems

Vessels / Piping
Drain from Hazardous Systems

NC

NC
NC
/ LC

NC
Spec. break

Drain Header
Drain Header

Blowdown Assembly

Min 600mm

FB
LO

XV

RO

FB
LO

Flare Piping Spec

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Spared Relief Valve Assembly

Flare

Flare

FB

PROVIDE SBB
FOR NON
HAZARDOUS
SERVICE AND
DBB FOR
HAZARDOUS
SERVICE

FB

LO

LO

NC

NC

FB /LO

FB /LC

Single or Multiple Relief Valve Assembly (No Spare)

PROVIDE SBB
FOR NON
HAZARDOUS
SERVICE AND
DBB FOR
HAZARDOUS
SERVICE

Flare

Flare
FB

FB

LO

LO

NC

NC
FB /LO

FB /LO

PIPE EXPANSION / REDUCTION REQUIRED TO SUIT PSV SHALL BE

PROVIDED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO PSV.

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Maintenance Vent

Min
600mm if
applicable

High Pressure Spec

Low temp spec if applicable.

Flare Piping Spec

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Level Instrument Isolation and Drain Assembly For Hazardous Systems

NC

2 LO

LT
2 LO

NC From other level instruments (same vessel only)

2
NC
To Closed Drain

Level Instrument Isolation and Drain Assembly For Non-Hazardous Systems

NC

2
LO FB

LT
2
LO FB

NC

To Open Drain

Notes
1. Isolation valve to be LO if level instrument has a safety shutdown function.

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Pressure Instrument For Hazardous Systems

(integral double block and bleed assembly)
PT

LO
(Note 1)

PT

LO
(Note 1)

Pressure Instrument For Non-Hazardous Systems

(integral single block and bleed assembly)

Notes
1. Isolation valve to be LO if pressure instrument has a safety shutdown function.

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Pressurisation Bypass
Note 1

Min 600
mm

NC

Low temperature
specification, if
applicable

NC
Note 1

Note
1. Provide positive isolation as shown when required.

MEP-R-ES-011, Pressure Isolation, rev 0, 24 June 2007

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