Page 51: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Nov/Dec 2014)

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Production leading to improved safety procedures of uncertainty when historical data is not

Uncertainty analysis should also be seen as it will avoid the need to break into available.

as an iterative process, with uncertainty the line, which involves isolation and There should also be more open shar- budgets being updated whenever new depressurization. ing of data across industry, as this will calibration data is available or changes

The use of historical data also means lead to better understanding of measure- are made to measurement system.

that if new systems are installed with This means that historical records ment systems which will be bene? cial identical equipment, then evidence will of calibrations should be kept in good for buyers, sellers, and pipeline users. be immediately available for determin- order so that they can be analyzed at This could involve the development of ing initial calibration schedules. If the regular intervals, which should already a calibration database, which would be stability of instruments is likely to reduce be the case if the system is audited. very bene? cial to the industry as a whole, over time, then such data will also help If a system is new or calibration data especially when specifying and selecting determine when these instruments need is not available, uncertainty sources new equipment. to be replaced. can be estimated by other methods.

Using historical data to carry out

However the uncertainty values should Calum Hardie is a uncertainty analyses will also bene? t be updated over time as more historical ? ow measurement the industry as a whole as increased data becomes available, and it is recom- engineer at TÜV SÜD knowledge of the uncertainty of mea- mended that as a minimum uncertainty Group company NEL, surement systems will lead to more budgets should be reviewed annually which provides effective allocation principles in shared to ensure they are still relevant and technical consul- pipelines. It will also help regulators to accurate. tancy, research, set regulations which are suitable and

While performance data is generally testing, and program achievable based on current industry available on the manufacturer’s data- management services.

best practice.

sheet, different manufacturers present Calum graduated with a degree in the data in diverse forms. For example, a Mechanical Engineering from the

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