Apparatus and method for performing process hazard analysis

• US 20060020604A1
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Berwanger, Patrick C., Murez, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0264 Control of logging system, e.g. decision on which data to store; time-stamping measurements

Abstract

A software application implementable on a computer system is disclosed for performing process hazard analysis. The process has a plurality of nodes with equipment, and process data created by external applications is stored in a plurality of external databases on the computer system. Using the disclosed software application, the user creates a plurality of internal master lists for the software application by importing the process data from the external databases into the software application. The user can also export process data from the internal master lists of the software application to the external applications. The user compiles a node record for each node of the process by inputting information on the node. The user also accesses one or more of the plurality of internal master lists created in the software application and associates the process data for the each node into the node record. The node records for each node are organized according to one of a plurality of guidewords. The user can review the node records of the process by filtering the node records according to a selected guideword, nodes, equipment, or other process data.

Claims

1. A method implementable on a computer system for analyzing and organizing data from a process, the process having a plurality of nodes, the computer system having access to a plurality of external databases each storing a unique type of process data, comprising:

creating a plurality of master lists by electronically importing process data from the plurality of external databases;

electronically compiling node records for the nodes of the process by associating process data from the master lists with the node records; and

electronically accessing the node records to understand or record hazardous processing conditions at the nodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the master lists includes an equipment master list imported from an external database having data on equipment used in the process, and wherein the node records comprise equipment records concerning equipment at the nodes compiled from the equipment master list.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the master lists includes a drawing master list imported from an external database having drawings pertinent to the process, and wherein the node records comprise drawing records concerning drawings pertinent to the nodes compiled from the drawing master list.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the master lists includes a safeguard master list imported from an external database having data on process safeguards, and wherein the node records comprise safeguard records concerning safeguard issues at the nodes compiled from the safeguard master list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the master lists includes an alarm master list imported from an external database having data regarding process alarms, and wherein the node records comprise alarm records concerning alarms pertinent to the nodes compiled from the alarm master list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the master lists includes a safe operating limits master list imported from an external database having data regarding safe process operating limits.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the master lists includes a pressure management master list imported from an external database having data regarding pressure management in the process.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of assigning an analysis criterion to each node record.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the analysis criteria comprises a guideword indicative of a problem at a node in the process.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of inputting a cause and a consequence of the analysis criterion associated with the node record.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of associating a risk of the consequence in the node record.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of exporting process data from the plurality of master lists.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein exporting process data comprises updating the plurality of external databases with the exported process data from the plurality of master lists.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the node records are manually supplementable by a user of the computer system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of master lists are manually supplementable by a user of the computer system.

16. A method implementable on a computer system for analyzing and organizing data from a process, the process having a plurality of nodes, the computer system having access to a plurality of external databases each storing a unique type of process data, comprising:

creating a plurality of master lists by electronically importing process data from the plurality of external databases;

electronically compiling node records for the nodes of the process by associating process data from the master lists with the node records;

electronically organizing the node records by associating a plurality of hazard analysis criterion with each node record; and

electronically accessing the node records using at least one hazard analysis criterion to understand or record hazardous processing conditions at the nodes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the master lists includes an equipment master list imported from an external database having data on equipment used in the process, and wherein the node records comprise equipment records concerning equipment at the nodes compiled from the equipment master list.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the master lists includes a drawing master list imported from an external database having drawings pertinent to the process, and wherein the node records comprise drawing records concerning drawings pertinent to the nodes compiled from the drawing master list.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the master lists includes a safeguard master list imported from an external database having data on process safeguards, and wherein the node records comprise safeguard records concerning safeguard issues at the nodes compiled from the safeguard master list.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the master lists includes an alarm master list imported from an external database having data regarding process alarms, and wherein the node records comprise alarm records concerning alarms pertinent to the nodes compiled from the alarm master list.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the master lists includes a safe operating limits master list imported from an external database having data regarding safe process operating limits.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the master lists includes a pressure management master list imported from an external database having data regarding pressure management in the process.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the analysis criteria comprises a guideword indicative of a problem at a node in the process.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of inputting a cause and a consequence of the analysis criterion associated with the node record.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of associating a risk of the consequence in the node record.

26. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of exporting process data from the plurality of master lists.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein exporting process data comprises updating the plurality of external databases with the exported process data from the plurality of master lists.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the node records are manually supplementable by a user of the computer system.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of master lists are manually supplementable by a user of the computer system.

30. A method implementable on a computer system for analyzing and organizing data from a process, the process having a plurality of nodes, the computer system having access to a plurality of external databases each storing a unique type of process data, comprising:

creating a plurality of master lists by electronically importing process data from the plurality of external databases;

electronically compiling node records for the nodes of the process by associating process data from the master lists with the node records, wherein the node records are indicative of hazardous conditions at the nodes;

manually updating either the master lists or the node records with user data; and

electronically exporting the user data from the computer system to an external database.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of assigning an analysis criterion to each node record.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the analysis criteria comprises a guideword indicative of a problem at a node in the process.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of inputting a cause and a consequence of the analysis criterion associated with the node record.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of associating a risk of the consequence in the node record.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein electronically exporting the user data comprises electronically exporting the user data from the computer system to at least one of the plurality of external databases.

36. A computer-readable medium having instructions to perform a method implementable on a computer system for analyzing and organizing data from a process, the process having a plurality of nodes, the computer system having access to a plurality of external databases each storing a unique type of process data, the method comprising:

creating a plurality of master lists by electronically importing process data from the plurality of external databases;

electronically compiling node records for the nodes of the process by associating process data from the master lists with the node records; and

electronically accessing the node records to understand or record hazardous processing conditions at the nodes.

37. A computer-readable medium having instructions to perform a method implementable on a computer system for analyzing and organizing data from a process, the process having a plurality of nodes, the computer system having access to a plurality of external databases each storing a unique type of process data, the method comprising:

creating a plurality of master lists by electronically importing process data from the plurality of external databases;

electronically compiling node records for the nodes of the process by associating process data from the master lists with the node records;

electronically organizing the node records by associating a plurality of hazard analysis criterion with each node record; and

electronically accessing the node records using at least one hazard analysis criterion to understand or record hazardous processing conditions at the nodes.

38. A computer-readable medium having instructions to perform a method implementable on a computer system for analyzing and organizing data from a process, the process having a plurality of nodes, the computer system having access to a plurality of external databases each storing a unique type of process data, the method comprising:

creating a plurality of master lists by electronically importing process data from the plurality of external databases;

electronically compiling node records for the nodes of the process by associating process data from the master lists with the node records, wherein the node records are indicative of hazardous conditions at the nodes; and

manually updating either the master lists or the node records with user data; and

electronically exporting the user data from the computer system to an external database.