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GasfindIR detects leaks at Bayernoil refinery

A Flir Systems product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 24, 2008

Flir Systems has revealed that the Bayernoil refinery in Germany has integrated the Flir GasfindIR into its leak detection and repair programmes.

The Bayernoil refinery complex is located in southern Germany and has three refinery, production and storage sites in Ingolstadt, Neustadt and Vohburg (between Munich, Nuremberg and Regensburg).

It is owned by oil corporations OMV, Agip, BP and Ruhr Oel.

More than 800 employees process annually 12m tonnes of crude oil that is refined into oil products.

Safety and environmental considerations are firmly integrated in the company's quality and production management.

Moreover, Bayernoil has a stringent zero-accident policy, hence the importance of preventive maintenance at the three sites.

When looking for fugitive emissions, refinery plants are subjected to a general turnover, a huge inspection and maintenance operation during which units are taken out of operation, partially dismantled, cleaned, maintained and tested.

At the Vohburg plant, some 1,500 additional workers are involved in this process, which usually takes several weeks.

John Stapleford, health, security, and environment manager of the Bayernoil plants, said: 'Our main reason to procure the Flir GasfindIR is to minimise hydrocarbon gas discharges from our piping systems, in particular, leaks near flange gaskets.' The start-up of the serviced Vohburg units provided an excellent opportunity to inspect the installations for leaks that might have remained after the turnaround.

Bayernoil is integrating the Flir GasfindIR into its leak detection and repair programmes.

Although environmental and safety prescriptions are stringent, there is currently no specific European LDAR programme that stipulates how often companies must find, repair and report leaks of volatile organic compounds.

Bayernoil wants to exchange its experiences with other Flir GasfindIR users within the Bayernoil owner companies to determine the optimum inspection intervals.

Find out more about this article. Request a brochure, download technical specifications and request samples here.

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