I can still remember the day I was told: “the pipe failed its thickness testing – but don’t worry we are going to use a pipe clamp so we can keep using it”. I had just attended my API 570 and 510 courses to learn all about process equipment inspection protocols. Not once did I hear about any “enclosure” that we could put around a leak or a failed inspection component so that we could continue to run until shutdown/turn-around. But little did I know, there is actually a practice for this very reason. Agree with it or not, in some situations shutting down the process can increase risks and have far-reaching economic impacts. And once I was shown the level of detail this practice has built into it, I was actually impressed – but I still limited the practice and required a very detailed MOC hazard review process based on where this engineered pressure enclosure was to be used. The FIRST and by far the MOST IMPORTANT fact that EVERYONE INVOLVED MUST AGREE to is:
Engineered Pressure Enclosures (EPE) can remain in place ONLY until the degraded or damaged pressure-retaining component can be PROPERLY AND PERMANENTLY REPAIRED OR REPLACED. They are TEMPORARY leak containment devices and at the VERY FIRST OPPORTUNITY to shut down the line, it is shut down, drained/purged, isolated, and repaired/replaced per API 570!!!!
I say this as I have found EPEs during audits that had been in place for so long that the current management/supervision/engineering had no idea it was in place!!