TOT 1718 999 9020 0019 (Gas Freeing and Inerting)

NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL COMPANY
South Pars Gas Field Development

Phases 17 & 18
DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

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Gas Freeing and Inerting Procedure
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Gas Freeing and Inerting

Procedure
CONTRACT NO. : POGC-84-801-244

PROJECT: SOUTH PARS GAS FIELD DEVELOPMENT
PHASES 17&18
COMPANY: PARS OIL & GAS COMPANY
SITE: ASSALUYEH, IRAN
0 Issued for Comment OICO R.Akbarzade Y.Jalalat E.Harounian M.Davoodi
REV. DATE DESCRIPTION Originator Prepared Checked Approved Authorized
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Table of Content
1. Purpose
2. Scope
3. Responsible Persons
4. Type of Permits
5. References
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1.0 Purpose
The purpose of this Procedure is to describe Gas Freeing and Inerting of vessels and pipe work prior
to bringing in and out of service and thereby to ensure a safe and controlled working environment.
To ensure the safety of personnel and that correct Procedures are applied for:
• Inerting vessels or pipe work out of service.

• Inerting vessels or pipe work into service.
It is vital that inerting operations are carried out in conjunction with the information in other related
documents and procedures particularly; Work Permits, Process and Electrical Isolations, and Entry
into Vessels and Confined Spaces.
2.0 Scope
This document is applicable for the Commissioning and Start-Up periods and is intended for the use
of employees of CONSORTIUM and his subcontractors who may be concerned with the operation of,
or work on the equipment and installations in South Pars Phases 17&18 project
3.0 Responsible Persons
3.1 Commissioning & Start-Up Manager
The Commissioning & Start-Up Manager is responsible for ensuring that Gas Freeing and Inerting
operations are carried out by Authorized Responsible Persons in accordance with this procedure.
3.2 Area Authority (Process / Utility / Shift Superintendents) The Area Authorities are responsible
for:
• Ensuring that all safety precautions and safeguards are fully implemented.
• Selection of the correct Procedures.
• Facilitating preparatory works in connection with work permits.
• Informing the relevant personnel of intended isolations.
• Appointing of competent persons to act as Performing Authority with responsibility for
performing the tasks.
• Ensuring that all necessary safety requirements and equipment which have been specified in
the Permit have been provided by Task Supervisors and Performing Authorities.
3.3 HSE Authority

The HSE Authority is responsible for:
• Providing advice and / or assistance as requested / when required.
• Ensuring Gas Testing is performed in accordance with the relevant Procedure,TOT-1718-999-
9020-0021
• Monitoring the overall safety of the operation.
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4.0 Type of Permits

4.1 General
When a section of plant, or a vessel, is withdrawn from service to have cold or hot work performed,
the following documents should be also being considered:
• Permit to Work Procedure, (TOT-1718-999-9020-0013).

• Process & Mechanical Isolation, (TOT-1718-999-9020-0018).
• All relevant Site HSE Standing Instructions.
To allow a person to enter a vessel (with or without breathing apparatus) reference should be made
to the following:
• Confined Space entry, (TOT-1718-999-9020-0020).

After the plant has been isolated and drained of hydrocarbon liquid it needs to be inerted using an
inert medium. This Procedure details the correct procedures to be used for either:
• Inerting out of service.

• Inerting into service.
It is vital that in determining the success, or otherwise, of an inerting operation that a sample is taken
from inside the vessel or pipe work to determine the suitability of the atmosphere to proceed further.
This Procedure is mainly focused upon inerting a vessel using an inert gas. In some situations,
inerting is performed by filling the vessel with water and then draining and introducing an inert gas at
the same time. This is the preferred option.
4.2 Principles of Inerting
The following principles are always to be respected:
• It is not possible to fully inert a vessel containing any combustible liquid.

• Never presume that inerting is successful by measuring the quantity of inert gas used. It is
always necessary to measure the concentration of hydrocarbon or oxygen in place and,
depending upon the case, the % of LEL after the vessel has been thoroughly ventilated.
• The checking of % LEL must be done before any hot work and also at regular intervals
thereafter as gas ingress may have occurred. Care must be taken of traps that contain
hydrocarbons (corners, girders, draining trays, etc.).
• Explosimeters designed to measure the % of LEL will not work correctly when the atmosphere
contains less than 15% oxygen. Before opening a vessel or pipe work to atmosphere always
measure the hydrocarbon content within the vessel or pipe work.
• When gas testing, it is important to take a sample from the location of the maximum
concentration of hydrocarbon (or oxygen). This depends upon the relative densities of the
hydrocarbon (or oxygen) and inerting medium. If in doubt take readings from different
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locations e.g. from the top and bottom of a vessel.

• To inert and ventilate a vessel that has contained solid materials (residue deposits, etc.)
always presents special risks, for example; spontaneous combustion from pyrophoric iron
sulphide. Such deposits must be damped down and removed. Do not attempt to scrape away
while still dry.
• Inerting a vessel for rapid entry requires a much larger quantity of inerting gas.
4.3 Inerting out of Service

The purpose here is to reduce the hydrocarbon content within the isolated section of plant to a
sufficiently low proportion, so that a flammable mixture cannot occur when air is added in any
amount.
Two methods of inerting out of service are applicable:
• By sweeping.
• By alternate pressurization and depressurization.
When measuring the hydrocarbon or inert gas content of the vessel / plant, use Table 1 for reference.
4.3.1 Inerting by Sweeping

This method consists of replacing the hydrocarbon gas present with an inert gas without mixing them
together. It is particularly useful for inerting pipe work.
In the case of pipe work, the inerting gas is introduced at one end and the hydrocarbon gas is vented
at the other end. Ideally the hydrocarbon gas and inerting gas will be of different densities. It is
therefore necessary to inject the inert gas at such a location to ensure that all the hydrocarbon gas is
removed (see Figure 1).
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TABLE 1
INERTING GAS END POINTS FOR INERTING OUT COMBUSTIBLE GAS END POINTS FOR INERTING OUT OF
OF SERVICE SERVICE
Combustible Gas Inert Gas Combustible Gas Inert Gas
Purging end points with
20% safety margin. %- Purging end points with 20%
minimum of inerting gas safety margin. %-maximum of
required so that the combustible gas allowed to be left
mixture will be non- after inerting so that the mixture
flammable when air is will be non-flammable when air is
added in any amount. added in any amount.
CO2↓ N2↓ CO2 N2
Hydrogen Sulphide, Hydrogen Sulphide,

note note note note
H2S H2S →
Hydrogen, H2 93 96 Hydrogen, H2 → 7 4
Carbon Monoxide,
Carbon Monoxide, CO 74 85 26 15
CO →
Methane, C1 82 89 Methane, C1 → 18 11
Ethane, C2 91 95 Ethane, C2 → 9 5
Propane, C3 91 95 Propane, C3 → 9 5
Butane, C4 93 96 Butane, C4 → 7 4
Iso-Butane, i-C4 93 96 Iso-Butane, i-C4 → 7 4
Pentane, C5 97 98 Pentane, C5 → 3 2
Hexane, C6 97 98 Hexane, C6 → 3 2
Gasoline 95 97 Gasoline → 5 3
Ethylene 92 95 Ethylene → 8 5
Propylene 95 97 Propylene → 5 3
Benzene 95 97 Benzene → 5 3
Natural Gas 97 98 Natural Gas → 3 2
Note:
• If in doubt as to the composition of the hydrocarbon, take the figure for natural gas.
• For H2S, take the figure for natural gas.
The inerting gas should be injected slowly to minimize any turbulence and mixing at the interface.
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This method is economical with respect to the amount of inerting gas used. In theory the amount of
inerting gas required will equal the volume of the pipe work although in practice it is necessary to use
20% extra.
If the densities of the hydrocarbon and inerting gases are similar it is recommended that the injection
rate should be increased to allow proper mixing. In this case the amount of inerting gas required will
be in the order of three times the volume of the pipe work.
FIGURE 1
4.3.2 Inerting by Pressurization and Depressurization

This method involves diluting the hydrocarbon content to the required concentration with an inert gas.
It involves pressurizing the system with inert gas to between 1 and 2 barg and then depressurizing
down to 0.1 or 0.2 barg. This operation is to be repeated once or twice more before the atmosphere
inside the vessel is sampled. Always stay within the design limits of the plant and equipment in
question.
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The following Graph 1 can be used as a guide as to the total quantity of inert gas that should be
necessary.
Again, it is vital that appropriate testing is carried out.
NEVER ASSUME THE VESSEL IS INERTED.
GRAPH 1
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Example: A vessel or pipe work has a hydrocarbon content of 100%. It is to be inerted with nitrogen.
From Table 1 the maximum final hydrocarbon content is to be 2% (98% nitrogen). The ratio of initial
to final hydrocarbon concentration is therefore 100/2 = 50. From Graph 1: it is necessary to use a
nitrogen volume of four times that of the vessel or pipe work.
4.3.3 Other Information
• Care must be taken to avoid vacuum conditions occurring unless these are within the design
limits of the plant in question.
• Before entering any enclosed spaces the atmosphere inside must be tested.
• For gas freeing of large vessels e.g. oil storage tanks etc., this is not always practicable. In
such cases the vessel is filled with water and drained two or three times, each time allowing
air to enter, before the atmosphere inside the vessel is tested.
• For hot work inside, or on the outside, of vessels or pipe work that has previously contained
hydrocarbons, inerting and cleaning must be done to remove any deposits of hydrocarbon
substances. Steaming should also be considered.
• For hot work inside a vessel, a Gas Test must be carried out immediately before the work and
a permanent gas detector complete with suitable alarms must be used for the duration of the
work.
• To carry out Gas Tests inside a vessel, the gas tester must wear the following:
- Breathing Apparatus.
- Safety Harness and Lifeline.
- A permanent watch/standby man is to be immediately outside the vessel whenever
someone is inside (working or testing).
4.4 Inerting into Service

The purpose here is to reduce the oxygen content within the isolated section of plant to a sufficiently
low percentage so that an inflammable mixture cannot occur when hydrocarbons are added in any
amount.
The crucial factor to be measured after inerting is that the oxygen percentage in the vessel/ plant is
less than 2% before any hydrocarbons / combustible gas are introduced back into the vessel.
For inerting by dilution Graph 2 may be used.
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GRAPH 2
Example: A vessel or pipe work has contained 100% air (21% oxygen) and needs to be inerted to 2%
oxygen. The ratio of initial to final concentration of oxygen is therefore 21/2 = 10.5.
5.0 References
• Permit to Work Procedure, (Doc. TOT-1718-999-9020-0013).
• Commissioning General Leak Testing & Inerting Procedure
(Doc. No.: SIRC-00-CO-PR-0006)
• Confined Space Entry, (Doc. No. TOT-1718-999-9020-0020).
• Process & Mechanical Isolation, (TOT-1718-999-9020-0019)
• Total South Pars Gas Field Development Phases 2&3, Gas Freeing & Inerting
11

TOT 1718 999 9020 0019 (Gas Freeing and Inerting)

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NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL COMPANY

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

Gas Freeing and Inerting

CONTRACT NO. : POGC-84-801-244

0 Issued for Comment OICO R.Akbarzade Y.Jalalat E.Harounian M.Davoodi

REV. DATE DESCRIPTION Originator Prepared Checked Approved Authorized

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

Page Rev 0 Rev 1 Rev 2 Page Rev 0 Rev 1 Rev 2

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

• Inerting vessels or pipe work out of service.

3.3 HSE Authority

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

4.0 Type of Permits

• Permit to Work Procedure, (TOT-1718-999-9020-0013).

• Confined Space entry, (TOT-1718-999-9020-0020).

• Inerting out of service.

• It is not possible to fully inert a vessel containing any combustible liquid.

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

locations e.g. from the top and bottom of a vessel.

4.3 Inerting out of Service

Two methods of inerting out of service are applicable:

4.3.1 Inerting by Sweeping

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

CO2↓ N2↓ CO2 N2

Hydrogen Sulphide, Hydrogen Sulphide,

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

4.3.2 Inerting by Pressurization and Depressurization

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

Again, it is vital that appropriate testing is carried out.

NEVER ASSUME THE VESSEL IS INERTED.

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

4.4 Inerting into Service

For inerting by dilution Graph 2 may be used.

South Pars Gas Field Development

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT No.

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