The Refap oil refinery situated in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul state is a Petrobras facility that has an installed capacity of 200,000 barrels per day and processes crude oil to petrochemical naphtha, propylene, liquified petroleum gas, jet fuel, fuel oil and asphalt, diesel, and gasoline.
Under the contract, SGS engineers are required to open the equipment covers, remove tubular bundle, measure the thickness, perform hydrostatic test, and close the covers.
A few of the heat exchangers may also require up to three pressure tests on the hull, bundle and floating lid.
Heat exchangers or changers convert thermal energy from one medium to another and are common equipments in petrochemical and chemical plants.
Initial safety inspections are essential before operating the equipments as the constructive and operational features determine if it will qualify as pressure vessels as per the Brazilian NR-13 regulations.
