Asset risk mitigation is of vital importance in the Oil & Gas industry. Integrated solutions provide a costeffective way to analyse risks and secure safety compliance and reliable assets. With the help of MaxGrip and strEAM+, a large LNG import terminal in the Netherlands is gaining full control over reliability, compliance and cost.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been converted to liquid form for easy storage and transport. It only takes up about 1/600th the volume of natural gas. The liquefaction process removes components such as helium, water, and heavy hydrocarbons, and then condenses the gas by cooling it to below -160 °C. This makes LNG cost-efficient to transport over long distances in cryogenic sea vessels.

Safe and reliable operations

LNG terminals are built to export or import LNG, respectively for liquefaction and regasification. The LNG import terminal in the Netherlands distributes the regasified product as natural gas through the pipeline system. The terminal serves as an independent distribution hub for European energy companies, improving supply security and allowing new players to enter the market. The terminal’s priority is to ensure that under any circumstances, all processes remain safe, reliable and operational for 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Maximo and strEAM+

Control over reliability and safety compliance is an obvious necessity,  but it can easily become a complicated and costly affair. With lots of pressurized equipment, the terminal needs to be prepared for Risk-Based Inspection (RBI). Compliance at all times with safety and environmental legislation has to be combined with maximum production reliability levels and consistently high quality, all at the lowest possible cost. This challenge is met with the help of  strEAM+. MaxGrip’s software solution seamlessly integrates Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) into Maximo, the EAM system used by the terminal.

Data availability

In a fast-track implementation process, strEAM+ helps to keep all relevant data organised. “There was a time when maintenance and reliability were mostly a matter of personal dedication and responsibility, entrusted to a handful of engineers and mechanics”, says MaxGrip consultant Wouter Boerefijn. “Those days are over. With strEAM+, all reliability and maintenance engineering processes are greatly enhanced and become a major operational focus. Valuable data are integrated into the system and become available through the familiar Maximo interface in all work processes.’

Achieving business goals

MaxGrip helped to complete the new Asset Register and analysed all critical components. With strEAM+, a preventive maintenance and inspection plan was developed for each of these components. This approach ensures that vital RCM elements are immediately operationalised in Maximo. “The addition of new elements creates an expanding IT landscape, and there are many complicating inter dependencies. Apart from the data migration and configuration, we also provide project management and intensive training sessions. The terminal clearly recognizes the added value, as strEAM+ enables systematically verifiable compliance and risk-based maintenance, helping to achieve business goals with regard to safety, performance and cost.”

Source: https://www.maxgrip.com/case-studies/full-control/