Offshore Quantitative Risk Assessment
(QRA)
QRA(Quantitative Risk Assessment) is a method used to systematically calculate
the risks from hazardous events. It involves predicting the size of consequences
associated with a hazard, and the frequency at which a release of the hazard may
be expected to occur. These aspects are combined to obtain numerical values for
risk – usually risk of fatality. In order to quantify the overall risk levels,
consideration of all identified hazardous events is important. Similar hazardous
events are often grouped and assessed together as bounding events.
The traditional QRA approach shall be followed, which comprises the following
steps:
• Hazard Identification;
• Consequence Analysis;
• Frequency Analysis;
• Risk Summation and Evaluation; and
• Risk Mitigation.
The Quantitative Risk Assessment methodology is summarized as following
Hazard Identification and Selection of Failure Scenarios
Hazard Identification is the primary step in Risk Analysis. Many techniques are
available for hazard identification depending upon the objective of the study.
The most relevant technique of risk assessment is the review of release sources
of hazardous materials.
The isolatable sections are identified for the process under study. For each
isolatable section, failure scenarios are developed depending upon the
failuremode causing loss of containment, and for each failure scenario a set of
consequences chains is developed showing the hazard outcomes.
Effects and Consequence Calculations
Effects and Consequence Calculations are carried out to determine the potential
for injury to people from the identified failure scenarios. The hazard outcomes
are analysed using release rate, dispersion, and fire and explosion models.
Appropriate models available in the software package of SAFETI OFFSHORE
developed by DNV-GL shall be used for calculation of physical effects.
Key assumptions made in the calculations will be highlighted in the Assumption
Register.
Frequency Analysis
Likelihood of leak associated with each failure scenario is estimated based on
generic leak frequencies from historical databases which include the TNO Purple
Book, UK HSE, and UKOPA Pipeline Fault Database or OREDA Database.
Once the failure frequency of the failure scenario has been estimated, event
trees are developed to represent the sequence of events from the onset of the
initial failure. Using probabilities for each event branch, the event tree eventually
determines the frequency of the final hazard outcomes.
Risk Summation
Risk Summation combines the consequences and likelihood of all incident
outcomes from all selected incidents to provide a measure of risk. SAFETI
OFFSHORE developed by DNV-GL shall be used for Risk Summation. Based on
the consequence and likelihood of each outcome and the associated fatality
(given in the Assumption Register), the likelihood of the outcome resulting in a
fatality is determined within the software and the overall risks are generated. The
results of the Risk Quantification or Summation are presented in the form
of Location Specific Individual Risk & Individual Risk Per Annum.
Risk Mitigation
The following activities shall be undergone once risk estimation is completed.
• Perform sensitivity studies to help understand uncertainties associated
with the risk estimates.
• Update the risk analysis to estimate the risk benefits associated with
potential risk reductions measures (ALARP Demonstration).
• Prepare bow-ties.
Figure.1 Software with iFluids
If you have decided to do Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) through DNV PHAST & SAFETI, you might be
interested to get it from iFluids Engineering. iFluids Engineering is a Specialist Engineering Consultancy which
specializes in various Risk & Safety Studies. It is also has genuine licensed software for major requirements
in Oil & Gas and Petrochemical Industry. These include software from DNV PHAST, Pipenet, Olga, MAROS and
a whole lot more as mentioned in Figure.1 Software with iFluids.
Whenever you find yourself choosing between service provider for various specialized, just remember the
that using latest software helps in a reliable and safe operations! And always verify the same directly.
Learn more about Safeti software
Contact our experts to learn more about DNV Safeti software and the services that iFluids Engineering
provides
Figure.2 iFluids Process Safety Consulting Services
Figure.3 iFluids Loss Prevention/Fire Safety Consulting Services
Figure.4 iFluids Functional Safety Consulting Services
Figure.5 iFluids Specialized Studies
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