In the latest years O&G industry has generally recognized that Process Safety and Asset Integrity Management are key drivers for correctly managing assets and ensuring their ability to perform their functions efficiently and as intended whilst protecting people and environment for all the life-cycle.
In 2009 an innovative risk screening methodology was developed for evaluating hazards and establishing priorities for risk reduction supported by a dedicated software called BART (Baseline Risk Assessment Tool). BART combines a simplified QRA for the calculation of frequency and consequences of the accidental event and the Bow-Tie methodology for the identification of the safety barriers in place. Dedicated checklists allow to evaluate the efficiency of the barriers and their contribution in reducing frequency and/or consequences of the accident.
The result of the analysis is the evaluation of risks related to plant process units (e.g. separators, compressors, etc.) and the identification of recommendations for the further improvement of safety barriers in place.
During the years the tool has been continuously updated with new features and additional modules with the aim of creating a comprehensive tool capable of performing quick but complete risk assessments on Oil&Gas Upstream industry assets.
The latest of these update is a brand new module dedicated to Floating Production Storing and Offloading (FPSO) Units and Floating Production Units (FPU), and, in the paper, its methodology and new features are described also through the outcomes of the first real case application.
As described by Petrone and others [1], BART is a risk screening tool that combines a simplified Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) methodology with a bow-tie model approach to identify and assess any potential hazards and associated risks, that may arise from a process activity carried in both onshore and offshore Oil & Gas installations.
BART (BAseline Risk Assessment Tool) methodology is based on a simplified quantitative risk assessment methodology developed to determine the initial risk level within each functional unit of the installation, according to the process flow, the operative conditions and the plant layout. Consistent with the unit input data, the tool calculates on the basis of specific assumptions the release frequency and estimates the consequences for each foreseeable top event that could happen within each functional unit as if no preventive and recovery barriers are in place. Starting from these initial risks, the bow-tie approach is then adopted to evaluate the current risk levels decreasing the likelihood of occurrence and severity of consequences of each top event on the basis of the number and effectiveness of all preventive and recovery barriers in place within each functional unit.
